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Watch: Joe Flacco leads 75-yard opening TD drive vs. Jets
Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco. Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Browns QB Joe Flacco leads 75-yard opening TD drive vs. Jets

By Mike Santa Barbara  |  Last updated Dec 28, 2023 9:03 PM ET

Christmas is over, but Joe Flacco is the gift that keeps giving.

Flacco continued his miraculous run with the Cleveland Browns on "Thursday Night Football," leading a nearly flawless opening touchdown drive against the New York Jets with a playoff berth on the line. 

The 38-year-old was 3-of-4 on the drive for 75 yards. Flacco connected with tight end David Njoku early, finding him for gains of 28 and 36 yards before capping things off with a seven-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerome Ford. 

The Jets quickly tied things at 7-7 after the Browns scored, but Flacco and company responded. Once again, Flacco hooked up with Njoku to set up a TD. This time, a 43-yard one-handed catch-and-run by the TE led to a seven-yard score on the ground from RB Kareem Hunt, putting the Browns back on top by a score only seven plays later. 

Flacco has won three of four starts since signing with the Browns ahead of Week 12. Entering Thursday night, the Super Bowl XLVII MVP completed 59 percent of his passes, averaging 327 passing yards per game with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. 

A hot start for the Browns against the Jets was crucial, as a victory would send Cleveland to the postseason for only the second time since 2003.  

Mike Santa Barbara

Mike Santa Barbara is a Wilmington, Delaware native (Yes, it's a real place) with over a decade of sports writing experience. A diehard Philadelphia sports fan, he has two dogs named after Flyers and cried real tears when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII. You can follow him on X at @mike__sb

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