Flavio feels right at home to Cleveland. The Browns are starting their playoff run with a quarterback.

Flavio feels right at home to Cleveland. The Browns are starting their playoff run with a quarterback.

Unlike most places, Flacco has become a hero in Cleveland. Before the season, the Browns thought they would be in the running for the AFC playoffs.

They never thought they were going to do it with Flacco, who used to be a competitor of theirs with the Ravens but is now a friend.

But when he was in the middle of Cleveland’s locker room party on Sunday, surrounded by fresh faces, some of whom he hadn’t even talked to much in the three weeks he had been getting to know them, Flacco was emotional.

Flacco has shown in just two games that he can still complete passes in tight defense windows.

He has also given the Browns faith and steady leadership in a season full of injuries that still has a chance to be great.

Stefanski’s idea for Cleveland’s offense has finally come true, but only in small doses.  Deshaun Watson was rusty last season because he was suspended by the NFL and had to deal with an injury to his shoulder in 2023.

While I have nothing against rookie quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns needed a quality upgrade to keep this season from falling apart.

Flacco, who is the fourth quarterback to start and win against the Browns this season, is the right choice.

Watson, their starting quarterback, Nick Chubb, their star running back, and both of their starting offensive tackles are already out.

After a few drops over the past few weeks, end David Njoku had his first game with two touchdowns.

On Sunday, both center Ethan Pocic as well as safety Grant Delpit got hurt. Defense end Myles Garrett, who is an All-Pro, has been playing with a hurt left shoulder for the past two weeks.

In the first quarter, Njoku scored from 34 yards out while wide open. In the second quarter, he took Flacco’s short pass over the middle and scored from 30 yards out, putting the Browns ahead 14-0.

Njoku has already surpassed his career high of 59 catches in his seventh season. After Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome, who had 47, his 23 scores are the second most for the tight end position in the team’s history.

Even though the weather wasn’t great, Cleveland Browns Stadium was full of empty seats for Sunday’s game, which was likely one of those biggest the Browns have played in in front of home fans in years.

Since Dawand Jones can’t play for the duration of the season, the Browns are taking more and more hits.

Jones has had a good first year, but he needs surgery on his right knee next week, which will end his season.

Stefanski didn’t say much about the injuries that happened on Sunday, but Pocic (neck stinger), Delpit (groin), RB Jerome Ford (hand), and DT Jordan Elliott (concussion) were all mentioned.

Denzel Ward, a cornerback, missed his second straight game with a shoulder injury, but Stefanski stated he’s “getting close.” Ward worked out last week. S Juan Thornhill hurt his knee more during warm-ups.

The passing game will try to get back on track after a bad game against the Jets, no matter who starts at quarterback on Sunday. It won’t be easy, though, because a lot of people on the receiving team are hurt.

Tank Dell broke his leg in Week 13 and couldn’t play in Houston’s first game without him on Sunday.

The group took another hit when leading wide Nico Collins left the game early on Sunday with a calf injury.

This happened during the same game that starting tight ends Dalton Schultz missed for the second week in a row with a hamstring injury.

If Collins and Schultz can’t play against the Tennessee Titans, the Texans are going to require someone like John Metchie or Noah Brown to stand in for them.

Backup tight ends Brevin Jordan was Houston’s best catch against the Jets. He caught three passes for only 35 yards.

Ryans said, “To make things easier, I think it all starts with just doing what we’re supposed to do to give ourselves a chance.”

“Maybe you should start right there. You need to be able to follow the plan and do what we need to do, no matter who is in there.”