There’s no comp in Browns history for the Joe Flacco story
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Editor’s note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland. He has covered the Browns since 1984.
Second thoughts on Browns 37-20 win over New York Jets …
1. Two anecdotes from the end of the game sum up the Joe Flacco story better than anything. First, Jets linebacker C.J. Mosley, a former teammate of Flacco’s in Baltimore, hugging the new Browns QB and saying, “Who would have thought the [expletive] Browns would be chanting your name? That [crap’s] crazy.” Shortly after that exchange, Flacco ventured to the field seats where his father, brother and other family members viewed the game. As captured by Jonathan Jones of CBSSports.com, Flacco’s dad told him, “I think it’s the happiest I’ve ever seen you on a football field.” There really is no comp of the Flacco story in Browns history. A player from a hated rival who had tormented them for years – Flacco was 17-3 against the Browns with the Ravens and 1-0 with the Jets – coming to their rescue and turning them into an offensive juggernaut while rolling into the playoffs. Enjoy the ride. The ending will be fascinating.
Joe Flacco's five kids were born when he played for the Ravens. Now they're certified Browns fans. (Cleveland Browns)
2. Elijah Moore spent Thursday night in the hospital under observation after suffering a concussion when his forehead bounced off the ground after a hard, but legal, tackle by Mosley late in the second quarter. For a few moments, Moore’s arms twitched erratically as he lay on the ground. Moore was released from the hospital Friday morning and was recovering at home, said Kevin Stefanski. “I’ve been texting with him. Those are always scary, as we all know,” the coach said. Moore was enjoying a fabulous night against his former team with five catches on six targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. Perhaps his best play was disrupting an interception by Michael Carter and fighting for the ball for a 24-yard reception. This was the second time in Flacco’s five starts in which Moore stepped up as Flacco’s primary receiver with Amari Cooper out with an injury. “He was outstanding,” Stefanski said. By the way, it’s reasonable to speculate that Moore’s head injury might have been more serious if the game were played on an artificial surface. It also may have helped that the natural grass field in Cleveland Browns Stadium was made even softer by an intermittent rainfall.
3. The Browns completed another total rebuild on-the-fly of their quarterback room when they added Jeff Driskel to their 53 roster. Driskel, 30, was a sixth-round draft pick of the 49ers in 2016. The Browns are his seventh NFL team. He threw his first touchdown of his NFL career against the Browns in 2018 in relief of Cincinnati Bengals starter Andy Dalton. He also scored his first touchdown in that game. Adding a third quarterback was essential as the Browns now venture into playoff mode. Every team has learned from the 49ers’ gaffe last year in the NFC Championship Game. Having only two quarterbacks available in that game cost the 49ers a shot at reaching the Super Bowl. So here is the litany of quarterbacks the Browns have employed since the first day of training camp at The Greenbrier: Deshaun Watson, Josh Dobbs, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kellen Mond, P.J. Walker, Flacco and Driskel.
4. Here’s more fodder for the Stefanski for coach-of-the-year campaign: Per Rick Gosselin, the long-time NFL scribe and Hall of Fame voter, 11 teams have started four different quarterbacks in a season in the past 10 years. The Browns’ 11-5 record is the best among them. 2023 Browns (11-5), 2022 Cardinals (4-13), 2022 Rams (5-12), 2021 Saints (9-8), 2020 Cowboys (6-10), 2020 Broncos (5-11), 2018 Bills (6-10), 2018 Redskins (7-9), 2015 Ravens (5-11), 2015 Cowboys (4-12), 2015 Texans (9-7).
5. Concerns about the Browns’ running game should be relieved by the performance of Jerome Ford against the Jets. Ford’s biggest play was an indefatigable run after a catch through traffic for a 50-yard touchdown after Flacco escaped pressure – and Quinnen Williams’ punch to his face – and delivered the ball to Ford. But his running (12 attempts for 64 yards) was a nice blend of patience and acceleration when the Browns dominated the game in the first half. Ford now has 819 yards (two 100-yard games) and four rushing touchdowns, plus five receiving touchdowns. Kareem Hunt, who re-joined the Browns after Nick Chubb’s season-ending injury in Game 2 in Pittsburgh, has 411 yards and nine rushing touchdowns. So that’s 18 touchdowns from the Browns’ primary backs. That’s not far off the 23 TDs scored by Chubb/Hunt in their best year together in the 2020 playoff season.
6. What a job by special teams coordinator Bubba Ventrone after his kickoff coverage unit suffered a 98-yard touchdown return and lost an onside kick in Houston four days earlier. After a compressed week, in which the Browns spent only one day on the practice field, Ventrone got emergency specialists Riley Patterson and Matt Haack up to speed and then celebrated a forced fumble on a kickoff by Matthew Adams and recovery by Mike Ford, and a blocked field goal by Shelby Harris. Now, some explanation is needed why Patterson, who missed one PAT to the right, lined up on the right hash mark for every PAT.
