How the latest QB trade in the NFL affects the Packers, and why they still need to make a statement vs. the Bengals
Joe Flacco is going to the Bengals.
Two weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers suffered a tough and unexpected loss to the Cleveland Browns. The quarterback of the Browns was veteran Joe Flacco. On Sunday, when the Packers return to the field after the bye, the quarterback will be, once again, Joe Flacco.
The Browns made a rare intra-divisional trade to send Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, and the 40-year-old quarterback is now expected to start against Green Bay for the second time this season.
Now, the Packers would probably prefer to face a struggling quarterback in Jake Browning. But it’s not like Flacco had been a world-beater in Cleveland, and this is ultimately why he was benched in favor of Dillon Gabriel and then traded to another AFC North team.
Joe Flacco has been bad
Yes, the Browns beat the Packers 13-10, but that doesn’t mean Flacco had been playing well, nor that he played well in that game.
Through the first five weeks of the season, Flacco is dead last in both adjusted EPA/play and success rate among 34 qualified quarterbacks. You read that correctly, he’s been worse than Jake Browning.
Joe Flacco stats vs. the Packers
- 21/36, 142 yards
- 3.9 yards per attempt
- 55.6 passer rating
- 1 big-time throw
- 0 turnover-worthy plays
- 7.5 average depth of target
Against the Packers specifically, Joe Flacco had an inefficient game. But in a low-scoring matchup, the fact that he didn’t have a single turnover-worthy play (despite having an interception on a fourth-down arm punt) helped the Browns win.
After having a three-interception game from Browning, this is probably what the Bengals are trying to recreate. While Flacco is third with six interceptions this season, his turnover-worthy play rate (3.2) is much better than Browning’s (6.0).
In terms of passing grade, however, the Packers’ matchup was Flacco’s second-worst game of the season, just better than what he did against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. The defense and special teams were obviously more impactful for the win than the offense.
Protection will be an issue
Joe Flacco will have two big challenges to start his Bengals’ tenure. First, even though he’s an experienced player, the veteran has to learn a new offensive system and create some type of chemistry with his receivers on a five-day notice.
There’s also a longer-term problem, and this one applies to any quarterback the Bengals could start, including Joe Burrow. The offensive line is a major concern, being the worst in the NFL in pass block win rate, via ESPN. The Browns don’t necessarily have an amazing unit, but the 26th rate is a material difference.
Defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley will have a lot of work to do over the next few days trying to predict what the Bengals will do with Flacco and adapt his gameplan for it. Nevertheless, the new element shouldn’t be enough to change how favored the Packers are in this game — and how concerning it will be if they can’t pull off the win at Lambeau Field.
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