Why trade for Joe Flacco has Bengals players reenergized

The Cincinnati Bengals acquired veteran quarterback Joe Flacco from the Cleveland Browns this past Tuesday and are starting Flacco for this coming Sunday's game at the Green Bay Packers (2-1-1).

While speaking with reporters on Thursday, Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase explained why he and others in the locker room are reenergized now that Flacco has replaced Jake Browning atop the depth chart. 

Does Joe Flacco give Bengals "a chance" to remain in playoff hunt?

"They just see that we've got a chance," Chase said about the Bengals' trade for Flacco, per Ben Baby of ESPN. "Defense is doing a good enough job to help us out. Our playmakers gotta make plays in space. That's what they see. That's what they want -- is to keep going. They're just giving us an opportunity to make more of those plays happen."

Chase seemingly was frustrated about the struggles of the Bengals' offense after Browning played poorly in three straight double-digit losses with Joe Burrow sidelined indefinitely due to a toe injury. That said, Flacco was far from elite when he lost three of four September starts with the Browns. 

According to Pro Football Reference, Flacco enters the weekend responsible for the league's worst passer rating among qualified quarterbacks (60.3). He's ranked 28th with a 36.7 adjusted QBR and 33rd with a 34.9 percent passing success rate. 

What does 40-year-old Joe Flacco have left in the tank? 

The 40-year-old Flacco largely looked like a signal-caller past his prime across his four outings with Cleveland last month. Nevertheless, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins indicated that he believes Flacco still has plenty left in the tank to help Cincinnati save its season. 

"The guy's been doing this for a while," Higgins said about Flacco. "It doesn't look like he took a step off with his arm. So, it's looking good."

As of Friday morning, ESPN BET had the 2-3 Bengals as massive 14.5-point underdogs for the matchup against the Packers. It sounds like Flacco should look for Chase early and often at Lambeau Field this weekend. 

"My fire ain't going nowhere," Chase added during his comments. "If I want to make a play, I'm going to ask for the ball."