Joe Flacco Breaks Tom Brady’s Record with Career-High 470 Yards Game Against Bears

Joe Flacco threw 470 yards while carrying an injury

Injuries have become a nagging issue across the league this year. Several big name players have suffered season ending injuries or had to play through it to help their teams in dire situations.

Flacco entered onto that list of players carrying injuries this week. The Pro Bowler stepped onto the field against the Bears while dealing with an injured AC joint in his throwing shoulder. He still completed 31 passes (65% completion) and 4 touchdowns to bring the Bengals close to a famous win.

What Joe Flacco did for us this week, you’ll never forget. Flacco could barely lift his arm this week, and he’s willing to go put himself out there for a bunch of teammates he’s been with for three weeks.

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said at the postgame presser (H/T: Bengals official transcript)

Flacco could have easily sat on the bench in Cleveland for the rest of the year and taken home a big payday, but even at his age he still has the hunger to start football games. A shoulder pain wasn’t merely enough of an issue for him to pass on starting against Chicago.

He said, ‘I’m a football player. That’s what I do for a living,’ and oftentimes you need that throughout the locker room. Go out there and do whatever it takes to win a game.

Taylor said about Flacco

Of course, Flacco would have preferred to win the game. As things stand, the Bengals are third in the AFC North, only because the Browns have a worse record.

Perhaps Taylor can help his team reset during the bye week and come back stronger after the break because they would require the pep talk. From week 11 to 14, the Bengals face the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New England Patriots, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Buffalo Bills.