Backup quarterback Joe Flacco likely to start for Cleveland Browns in Week 13
The Cleveland Browns will start veteran backup Joe Flacco on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams if rookie quarterback Dorian Robinson-Thompson fails to comply with concussion protocol.
The Browns (7-4) currently hold one of three AFC wild-card spots. The Rams will face the Browns at SoFi Stadium in Week 13, and the Browns are +3.5 favorites on the road.
When Flacco starts this Sunday, he will become the Browns' fourth starting quarterback this season.
Quarterback Deshaun Watson started six games but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury to his throwing arm. With Watson starting, the Browns are 5-1.
Veteran backup P.J. Walker has struggled in his two starts with the Browns, completing just 48.6 percent of his passes with one touchdown and five interceptions this season.
Thompson-Robinson is a freshman out of UCLA and has started three games this season. In Week 12 against the Denver Broncos, he threw a punch while trying to stop a pass attempt. He was ejected from the game and diagnosed with a concussion. Walker ended the game in relief, but the Browns lost 29-12.
With Thompson Robinson starting, the Browns are 1-2 this season.
Flacco: Hired Gun
Flacco, 38, had been a free agent all season but had not signed with a team until the Browns signed him after Watson was injured.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski has lost confidence in Walker as a starter, which is why Thompson Robinson has started the past two games. If Thompson-Robinson clears the concussion protocol within the next 48 hours, he will start against the Rams and Flacco will replace him.
Stefanski promoted Flacco to the second line this week, with Walker demoted to the third line. Flacco took reps with the offensive starters in practice while Walker led the scout team.
He has a big, strong arm and obviously he can throw any pitch," Stefanski said. "He does a really good job in the meeting room, getting to know his teammates and learning the system. "
In 2012, Flacco led the Baltimore Ravens to Super Bowl 47 and earned MVP honors. He started four games for the New York Jets last season.
Flacco has started 180 games in his career and has a 99-81 record as a starter. Since leaving Baltimore in 2018, Flacco has a 3-14 record as a starter. He has won just one game since 2019.
The Browns relied on their vaunted defense to stay in the game. They have one of the best pass defenses in the NFL, allowing just 19 points per game, which ranks seventh. They rank first in the NFL in yards allowed (247.9) and passing yards allowed (142.0).
Browns contending for playoffs
With six games left, only two of the Browns' opponents have winning records. The Browns will face potential playoff teams such as the Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3) in Week 14 and the Houston Texans (6-5) in Week 16.
The Browns will face teams with poor records in their next four games, including the Rams (5-6) this Sunday, the Chicago Bears (4-8) in Week 15, the Chicago Bears (4-8) in Week 17 New York Jets (4-7) and Week 18 vs. Cincinnati Bengals (5-6).
The Ravens (9-3) are first in the competitive AFC North. The Pittsburgh Steelers (7-4) are in second place and looking like a new team after firing ineffective offensive coordinator Matt Canada. The Browns have the same record as the Steelers but are third in the division. The Bengals lost Joe Burrow to a season-ending wrist injury and are currently in last place.
The Ravens are the favorite to win the AFC North at -340, ahead of the Steelers (+400) and Browns (+800).
If the season ended today, three AFC North teams would have playoff berths. The Ravens will receive the No. 1 pick, the Steelers will receive the No. 5 pick and the Browns will receive the No. 6 pick.
According to a DraftKings bet, the Browns have -175 odds to make the playoffs and +130 odds to miss the playoffs.
Upshot assumes the Browns have a 9% chance of winning the division and a 68% chance of making the playoffs.
The Browns have a +5,000 chance to win the AFC Championship and a +6,500 chance to win Super Bowl XVIII.
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