Browns Name Joe Flacco Starter For Rest Of Season

In what can only be described as an expected series of events, the Cleveland Browns have named Joe Flacco as their starting quarterback for the rest of the season. This comes after Flacco has thrown for 565 yards and five touchdowns in his first two starts with Cleveland.

The decision to name Flacco the starter was an absolute no-brainer for head coach Kevin Stefanski. Cleveland has experienced some of, if not the worst, quarterback play in the league this season. Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson have been mostly terrible this season, with very few, if any, bright spots coming from this trio.

It is not about Flacco being particularly good; his 55.1 completion percentage needs some work. It is about being much better than the alternatives. The Browns gave Walker and Thompson-Robinson a chance to take the job and run with it following the season-ending injury to Watson, and they failed to do so. Walker does not belong in the NFL, while Thompson-Robinson looks every part of a fifth-round rookie. Taking the poor level of play from everyone else in mind, there really was no other option for Stefanski – Flacco was the only choice.

Even though Flacco is far from the most exciting option for the Browns, he clearly gives them the best chance to win right now. Flacco is at least willing to test the defense with throws down the field, something the other three have not done nearly enough this season. Being able to force the defense to account for a genuine downfield attempt rather than just crowding the line of scrimmage makes a huge difference.

All the Browns need from Flacco is incredibly average quarterback play, something that he is capable of, and they will be able to compete with anyone once the postseason begins.