Joe Flacco has a heartfelt message to Cleveland after painful playoff loss

Joe Flacco got to go out on his terms. Not many in the NFL get that same opportunity.  Still, his magical December run with the Cleveland Browns came to a crashing end after a 45-15 loss to the Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card matchup. Following the loss, where Flacco threw two backbreaking interceptions, he shared […]

Ian Kayanja
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Jan 13, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA: Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during the first quarter a 2024 AFC wild card game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Image via Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Flacco got to go out on his terms. 

Not many in the NFL get that same opportunity. 

Still, his magical December run with the Cleveland Browns came to a crashing end after a 45-15 loss to the Houston Texans in an AFC wild-card matchup. Following the loss, where Flacco threw two backbreaking interceptions, he shared his heart with reporters on what the December run meant for him. 

"I was so fortunate to become a part of this team," Flacco said. "It's a special group. I know a lot of people can say that. But it really is. To be given a chance to do this with those guys, I'm super grateful for it. Listen, this is why we love football."

Flacco finished the game with 307 yards and had a touchdown pass in the first half. However, his mistakes under pressure in the third quarter were too much for the Browns to overcome. Meanwhile, C.J. Stroud easily outshined him in his playoff debut.

Still, the soon-to-be 39-year-old quarterback had a chance to feel alive on the field again. 

During the regular season, Flacco led the Browns on a 4-1 run, where he passed for more than 300 yards in all but one of those games. But Flacco, someone desperate to win, the playoff loss wasn't the way he wanted to go out. 

"Well, it's disappointing the way it ends," Flacco said. "When the city embraces you and the team the way they have, you definitely want to do big things, mostly for your teammates because those guys, like I said, have been incredible.

"I can't thank the organization, my teammates, the city enough. It stinks the way it ends, but it was a lot of fun, and I'm grateful for the time that we had."

There is no doubt Deshaun Watson will be back by the start of the 2024 season. Star running back Nick Chubb will be healthy against sometime during the same season. What happens next for Flacco isn't known. But for five weeks in Cleveland, he was a rockstar. 

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