LOS ANGELES — It might feel weird to see Joe Flacco wearing orange and brown for many Cleveland fans, but the way things started for him might make it a little easier to grasp.
Flacco got the start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams after rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson was ruled out with a concussion on Friday. Thompson-Robinson sustained the concussion against the Broncos the week prior and was working to progress through concussion protocol but remained in it through the week of practice out in L.A.
The Browns opted to name Flacco the backup this week and then the starter after Thompson-Robinson was ruled out.
Flacco is a familiar face to Browns fans, having played for the AFC North foe Baltimore Ravens for 11 seasons, winning a Super Bowl and earning Super Bowl MVP honors.
However, in his 16th season, Flacco found his way to Cleveland, signing with the Browns just under two weeks ago. He's been working with the practice squad team since his arrival, but in the week leading up to the Rams game, he got to take reps with the first team.
On Sunday, making his debut with the Browns, Flacco came out strong. A nine-play, 75-yard opening drive ended in a Browns touchdown.
Flacco opened up the drive with a six-yard pass to wide receiver Amari Cooper before the Browns went to the run game to move the chains with Kareem Hunt and Jerome Ford. Then, Flacco worked his arm, hitting Cooper again with a perfectly placed ball for 22 yards. He then began connecting with Ford in the air, once for a 13-yard gain and wrapping with a 24-yard pass to a wide-open Ford who stumbled into the end zone to give the Browns an early 7-0 start.
With the touchdown pass, Flacco, 38 nearing 39, became the oldest quarterback to throw a touchdown for the Browns.
"He did well and he ran the offense pretty well for his first time out," said defensive end Myles Garrett.
The opening drive, and most of the game, showed that Flacco still has plenty left in the tank. He threw for 254 yards and two touchdowns.
It was midway through the fourth quarter when Flacco made a mistake—an untimely interception when the Browns were trailing just a point with the potential to drive down a take a lead.
"They just matched everybody up and I was in the pocket a long time and it ultimately was just a bad decision. I was late throwing that pass," Flacco said. "Deep down I know I can play the game so that's not my thought process at this point. My thought process is just disappointed in myself. These are the game I honestly love to be in, that come down to the fourth quarter. They're not pretty and they're going to be tight. I think I excel in the games that are played tight and need to have good decisions be made. So to not come through in that kind of situation definitely stings a little bit."
Flacco's outing wasn't perfect, but he showed he can manage a game and without that interception may have had a shot to lead the Browns to a win. It was a decent performance that showed his potential—but where will the Browns go from here?
With Thompson-Robinson progressing through concussion protocol, the Browns will soon have a decision to make: go back to the rookie or keep rolling with the veteran.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski refused to get into the plan for quarterback moving forward right after the game, saying "I'm not going to get into all that."
That's something they'll figure out after they are back in Cleveland and gearing up for their next matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
