By Steve King
Browns starting quarterback Joe Flacco doesn’t need any scrutiny, really, as he is one of the “most sure” things on the team.
Yet, on a day when a number of roster spots will be up for grabs, it is not necessarily the players involved in all that but rather Flacco I will most focus on when the Browns and Los Angeles Rams close out the preseason as they meet Saturday afternoon at Huntington Bank Field.
Why?
It’s simple. Flacco is the quintessential professional quarterback, a savvy, smart, experienced, long-tenured veteran who is able to make all the throws while operating the offense with the command, smoothness and preciseness of a skilled surgeon, and he — that — is especially joyful to watch because the expansion-era Browns have been so bereft of such over the past 25 years.
He was so magical down the stretch in the 2023 season when he walked in off the street and carried the Browns into the playoffs. This will be his first appearance of the 2025 preseason, and I am anxious to see how much of that he still has left in him.
More will be revealed when the regular season begins in two weeks, but this will at least give us a glimpse — a tease.
Joe Flacco is extremely underrated…👀
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) August 18, 2025
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Top 3 Joe Flacco Highlights with the Cleveland Browns
When Joe Flacco walked into Berea in late November 2023, few could have imagined the impact he would have. At 38 years old, fresh off the couch, Flacco didn’t just keep the Browns afloat — he carried them into the playoffs and gave fans a taste of quarterback play they had long craved. Here’s a look back at his Top 3 highlights in a Browns uniform:
3. The 300-Yard Machine (Weeks 14–18, 2023)
From the moment he took the field, Flacco brought fireworks. He became the first Browns quarterback ever to throw for 300+ yards in five straight games. Week after week, his deep strikes and surgical accuracy turned the offense into a force. For a franchise that has cycled through countless quarterbacks, Flacco’s consistency was nothing short of remarkable.
2. Christmas Eve Clinic vs. Houston (Week 16, 2023)
On December 24, Flacco gave Browns fans an early present. He shredded the Texans’ defense for 311 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 36–22 victory. His timing, command, and ability to spread the ball around showed shades of his Super Bowl MVP days. It was the moment many realized — the Browns weren’t just surviving with Flacco, they were thriving.
1. Playoff Clincher Against the Jets (Week 17, 2023)
In one of the most electric nights in recent Browns history, Flacco lit up his old team — the New York Jets — with 309 yards and 3 touchdowns in a 37–20 win. The victory clinched a playoff spot, only the team’s third since 1999. The Dawg Pound erupted as Flacco cemented his place in Cleveland lore, proving he wasn’t just a stopgap, but a savior in a season teetering on the edge.
🏈 Legacy in Cleveland
Flacco’s time with the Browns may have been brief, but it was unforgettable. His calm, veteran leadership and fearless play under pressure gave fans something they hadn’t felt in a long time: confidence in their quarterback.
🛒 Browns Fan Essentials on Amazon
Celebrate Joe Flacco’s unforgettable run and show your Dawg Pound pride with these fan favorites:
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