CLEVELAND, Ohio — A grizzled quarterback takes over a dilapidated locker room with six games remaining.
He threw one touchdown in 14 months and barely practiced with his new teammates. But for the next four weeks, he’ll liven up their season (and their city) with his seed-throwing right shoulder.Stop waiting for the punchline. The resurgence of quarterback Joe Flacco and the Browns’ resurgence alongside him is serious business. Despite injuries to several starters on opening day, Cleveland can clinch a playoff spot with a win against the Jets on Thursday. Despite Flacco’s perceived limitations, he threw for 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns during his 3-1 stint as a starter — a four-game statistical streak unmatched in Browns history. And despite fans’ tendency to assume the worst, Dawg Pound is starting to believe in the return of sports movies set in Berea. Are you still holding out? I can’t blame you: cleveland.com interviewed its beat writers and found that Flacco’s redemptive arc draws few (if any) historical parallels in this city’s history. Derek Anderson won 10 games in 2007 after starting the season as the Browns’ reserve. Glenville graduate Cardale Jones won the 2014 national championship as an understudy for J.T. Barrett at Ohio State. And pitcher Jaret Wright once won three postseason starts for Cleveland in 1997 – two in decisive games – after joining the team as a midseason call-up. But Flacco’s story is notable for how close he is (and was) to the end. Anderson (24), Jones (22) and Wright (21) were still full of potential when they won Cleveland’s hearts. But before Flacco, 38, signed with the Browns last month, it appeared the veteran passer had exhausted all his strength.Nobody signed him in training camp or during the preseason. The Jets, who employed Flacco last season, saw better options after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1. The Browns ran through three more pass rushers before calling him up. And even then, Cleveland’s expectations couldn’t have been that high. According to the record books, only legends do as much as Flacco did this season at his age. Among quarterbacks 38 or older, before Flacco, only Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre and Warren Moon had 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns in four games. All four are certain Hall of Famers (which Flacco is not). And none of them joined his squad in the middle of the season (which Flacco did).But Cleveland’s quarterback continues to defy history. Flacco continues to find Amari Cooper, who broke the Browns’ franchise receptions record on Sunday, behind the opposing team’s secondary. He repeatedly brings needles to David Njoku through crowded passing windows in the red zone. And the Browns continue to win without a functioning running game, without the highest-paid quarterback in the league or one of their starting offensive tackles, thanks in large part to a quarterback they never had thought I needed it. The Browns can still technically win the AFC North or earn a first-round bye. And they could at least win a playoff game if their offense continues to perform well. Can Flacco keep up? Logical question. But as Cleveland (and its quarterback) proved last month, logic has no place in the story of Flacco’s spectacular comeback.It makes no sense that a 16th-year NFL veteran can string together 51-yard touchdowns between three defenders. There’s also no evidence that Cleveland’s fourth starting quarterback this season shouldn’t unlock the best versions of Cooper and Njoku. And if logic prevailed at Cleveland Browns Stadium, no Baltimore Ravens legend could open the hardened hearts of this fan base. As Cleveland prepares for a celebration this week, enjoy Flacco’s role in planning the party. Be grateful the Browns saved him from retirement. And before you worry about the playoffs, recognize this playoff push as a unique (albeit absurd) experience.
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