4 hours ago 1

Despite win vs Packers, Dillon Gabriel taking over for Joe Flacco possible, not now

With the Cleveland Browns’ first win of the season in an exciting 13-10 comeback, both the defense and special teams played lights out. Not so much with the offense, which only penetrated to Green Bay’s 41-yard line once until the fourth quarter.

For three-and-a-half quarters, the offense didn’t produce a running game, which was okay since they couldn’t pass the ball either. In the end, the Browns had 19 carries for 96 yards (with 38 on one play), and 142 passing yards with one interception and zero TD passes.

For three-and-a-half quarters, the offense was stink, stank, stunk.

QB Joe Flacco had a QB rating of 55.6 and was flushed continually in the game. Both offensive tackles, KT Leveston and Cornelius Lucas, were horrible as their defenders put pressure on Flacco frequently and at times looked like they were on a jailbreak. Starting tackle Dawand Jones is now out for the season.

With such a disappointing showing, the big question going into this week was: Who would start at quarterback for the Browns in preparation for the upcoming Detroit Lions game?

Both rookie QBs are an afterthought each game. Shedeur Sanders has been inactive all three games, and Dillon Gabriel played in mop-up duty against the Baltimore Ravens in the Week 2 beatdown. He played seven snaps in that contest and went 3-3 for 19 yards with one TD pass.

On Monday, Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski put the issue to rest when he announced that Flacco would continue being the starting QB as Cleveland prepares for the Lions game.

After the game, Stefanski reaffirmed Flacco’s role:

The Browns’ defense going into the Packers game was ranked #1 in the league. They were the #1 run defense and ranked #6 against the pass. The Packers’ run defense was #2.

And sure enough, Cleveland could not run whatsoever as they had 26 yards total in the first half while Flacco had connected for 87 passing yards.

Green Bay had a huge advantage in time of possession in each quarter. In the third quarter alone, the Packers had the ball for 11:21 while the Browns had just 3:39 of snaps.

The choice to start Flacco again will come with mixed emotions. Cleveland’s offense consisted of punt, punt, punt, thrown interception, punt, punt, punt before they scored a field goal with 9:26 remaining in the game.

Detroit has the league’s #3 defense currently. So, things are going to be just as tough this weekend, which could mean we see Gabriel taking over at some point or in the near future. On the other hand, Sanders’ name will continue to linger.

Hall of Fame Deion Sanders recently stated on the “New Heights” podcast that he expects to see Shedeur start for the Browns at some point this season.

He stated:

“Be patient and be ready,” he said. “You got to be ready when it’s time. But when it’s time, you’re going to know. And it’s coming up. I got a prediction. I ain’t telling nobody. I got a feeling when it’s going to go down. But it’s going to go down this year. ... He’s going to get a shot.”

Flacco has struggled under center for the Browns, and now is faced with continuing the season with backups at both offensive tackle positions, a completely stagnant run game, and a receiver group that isn’t getting any big numbers each game. The lone bright spots have been tight ends David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin.

Flacco has also tossed the second-most interceptions in the NFL with four and has a ranking among all 32 starting quarterbacks currently ranked #28. If Stefanski does make a decision to bench the seasoned veteran, he is admitting one of two things: Flacco can no longer get it done, or the season is lost.