Joe Flacco is back in Cincinnati, wearing Bengals stripes, and for now, backing up Joe Burrow. But don't mistake that for contentment. The man who led the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl XLVII title still believes he's a starting quarterback in this league. And he isn't afraid to say it, recently calling teams "dumb" for not signing him to a starting gig. That's vintage Flacco – confident, a little defiant, and probably, in his own mind, absolutely correct.
Look, you can't argue with his late-season run with the Cleveland Browns in 2023. Pressed into service after Deshaun Watson's injury, Flacco, then 38, stepped in and ignited an anemic offense. He threw for 311 yards and three touchdowns against the Jaguars in Week 14. The next week, 374 yards and two scores against the Bears. He completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions in just five regular-season starts, guiding the Browns to a 4-1 record and a playoff berth. That's not backup-level production; that's legitimately good quarterback play, especially for someone who had been on the couch just weeks prior. The Browns offense, under his direction, averaged 29.6 points per game in those five starts. Before Flacco, they were averaging 20.9 points. That's a significant jump.
Cleveland’s playoff run ended quickly, a 45-14 thrashing by the Houston Texans. Flacco threw for 307 yards but also tossed two pick-sixes, which certainly didn't help his case. But let's be fair, the entire team unraveled in that game. One poor playoff performance, especially after a stellar regular season cameo, shouldn't erase the body of work. He showed he still possessed arm talent and the ability to read defenses. He wasn't just dinking and dunking; he was pushing the ball downfield. His average depth of target in those five games was 9.4 yards, higher than many established starters.
Here's the thing: Flacco's "dumb" comment isn't just bravado. It's rooted in a genuine belief in his abilities, a belief that's been reinforced by his recent play. He saw what he could do with a competent offensive line and talented receivers like Amari Cooper, who had 109 receiving yards and a touchdown in Flacco's first start. How many teams out there had quarterback situations worse than what the Browns were facing before Flacco arrived? The New York Jets, for one, spent the entire season scrambling after Aaron Rodgers went down four snaps into Week 1. The Denver Broncos cycled through quarterbacks before settling on Russell Wilson, only to bench him later. Flacco certainly could have been an upgrade for several teams.
The reality is, teams are often hesitant to commit to an older quarterback, even one with a Super Bowl ring and a recent hot streak. They're looking for the next young arm, the next potential decade-long starter. Flacco doesn't fit that mold. He's a short-term solution, a bridge, a high-end backup who can win you games in a pinch. His one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Bengals, with incentives up to $8.5 million, reflects that. It's a good deal for Cincinnati, securing a proven veteran behind their franchise guy.
But Flacco’s point still stands. There were teams that could have used his services as a starter, even for a single season, to bridge a gap or compete in a weaker division. The Atlanta Falcons, who eventually signed Kirk Cousins to a massive four-year, $180 million deal, spent the 2023 season with Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke. Flacco, for a fraction of the cost, could have given them a better chance to win the NFC South. My hot take? The Falcons would have made the playoffs with Flacco under center last year. He showed he could elevate the talent around him.
He’s not delusional. He knows he’s not a 25-year-old franchise cornerstone. But he also knows what he brings to the table. And after what we saw in Cleveland, it’s hard to completely dismiss his argument. He might be 39, but Joe Flacco still has some gas in the tank. And I predict if Burrow misses any significant time this season, Flacco will lead the Bengals to a winning record.