Joe Flacco speaks honestly about hearing boos during Browns' win over Packers

Before the Cleveland Browns completed a stunning fourth-quarter comeback to improve to 1-2 on the season via a 13-10 win over the Green Bay Packers (2-1) on Sunday, Cleveland fans at Huntington Bank Field booed quarterback Joe Flacco and the rest of an offense that hadn't done much throughout the afternoon. 

Following the victory, Flacco acknowledged that what he heard from members of the Browns faithful stung.

Hearing boos from home fans "hurts" Joe Flacco

"You’re a person," Flacco said, per Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "You’re human. There’s a piece of you in there that it hurts you a little bit. You want to react to it, but you can’t. I talk about it a lot. That’s being a pro in this sport. You can’t be that guy. You will not survive. But yeah, we’re all human. I’m sure that affects people in not a positive way, but you’ve got to be able to rally and at least fake it, and then go out there and bring it to life." 

Flacco was mostly a passenger for Cleveland's rally that began with a Grant Delpit interception that gifted the Browns with an opportunity to complete a four-yard game-tying scoring drive with roughly three minutes remaining in regulation. The Browns later blocked a field goal before Cleveland's Andre Szmyt made his 55-yard walk-off attempt as time expired. 

In total, Flacco completed 21-of-36 passes for 142 yards with no touchdowns and one interception against the Packers. According to Pro Football Reference, he ranks last in the league among qualified players with a 65.9 passer rating on the season. 

Nevertheless, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that Flacco will start over rookie and primary backup Dillon Gabriel for Cleveland's Week 4 game at the Detroit Lions on Sept. 28 1-1 Detroit plays at the 1-1 Baltimore Ravens on Monday night. 

Was Joe Flacco embarrassed that Browns fans booed the offense?

"A piece of you, there’s always that inner battle," Flacco added. "You’re a little embarrassed, and that piece of you that wants to just put your head down and hide, you can’t do that. You have to be able to hold your head up and take it. Just take the onslaught of crap that possibly may come your way, and you’ve just got to continue to go out there and believe." 

As of Monday morning, ESPN BET had the Browns as 8.5-point road underdogs against the Lions. One can't help but wonder if Gabriel could see action at Detroit's Ford Field if that contest becomes a laugher.