The pressure is on for Joe Flacco to start producing as the Cleveland Browns face the Detroit Lions in Week 4.
Flacco may have won the starting job in the preseason, but the 40-year-old veteran has struggled to lift Cleveland’s offense. Through three games, he’s thrown for 631 yards with two touchdowns against four interceptions, and his 37.8 QBR ranks just 28th in the league.
The Browns are averaging only 15.3 points per game, sitting 30th in the NFL, with Flacco’s uneven play weighing heavily on the unit’s production.
Flacco will get another chance to spark the offense against the Lions, but his opportunities to prove he can be a viable solution are dwindling. The next option for the Browns is rookie Dillon Gabriel, though insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com isn’t convinced he can provide the lift the team desperately needs.
“I think that is what they’re missing. They’re missing right now, really good quarterback play. And I don’t know if they’re going to get that from Dillon Gabriel when it’s his time. I just don’t know,” Cabot said. “And that time could come sooner than later if Joe isn’t able to get anything done.”
Browns Offense Needs to Support Stellar Defense
What’s made the offensive struggles even more apparent has been some stellar performances from the Browns’ defense. Cleveland ranks No. 1 in yards given up per game (204.3).
“This defense belongs in the playoffs. It really does,” Cabot said. “Myles Garrett belongs in the playoffs. Denzel Ward belongs in the playoffs. I would argue Grant Delpit now belongs in the playoffs. Mason Graham, Carson Schwesinger. It’s a playoff-caliber defense. And it’s too bad for everybody that it looks like to this point, they don’t have the offense that they need to go along with it.”
Flacco has acknowledged his struggles and lack of production. However, he also emphasized that his role is to win games, not necessarily rack up numbers.
“It’s hard. It’s hard to go out there and play games like today and, you know, keep it together, but that’s what football is sometimes,” Flacco said after beating the Green Bay Packers 13-10. “There were times where there probably were guys down the field that were open, and it’s just, I didn’t make it happen. And you feel for the group as a whole. I mean, everybody wants to go out there and perform and put up numbers, points, yards, all that stuff. And part of your job as a quarterback is to get that done. But also, your job is to win a football game and just play your role in whatever that may be.”
Browns QB Shedeur Sanders Feels Like He Could Be Starter
The Browns quarterback conversation also includes fifth-round rookie Shedeur Sanders. The polarizing former Colorado star made some recent comments expressing he’s ready to get on the field and is not satisfied with his scout team role.
“I know if you see the quarterback play in the league right now, I know I’m capable of doing better than that,” Sander said. “I’m doing what I need to do each and every day. Remaining focused, remaining (my) mind on the complete mission, not really get comfortable. I’m not comfortable being a scout team player. Honestly, that’s my situation, I’m going to make the best of it and enjoy my moments. But overall this isn’t my end goal.”
Sanders told the Ravens not to draft him, fearing he’d be stuck behind two-time MVP Lamar Jackson. Ironically, his situation in Cleveland isn’t much different. Unless things completely unravel for both Flacco and Gabriel, Sanders is unlikely to see the field this season.
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