Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco is firmly in the crosshairs of Green Bay Packers star Micah Parsons.
The 40-year-old Flacco will be under center for the Browns on Sunday when they clash with the Packers in Week 3. Parsons, who has logged 54 career sacks in 65 games, wants to add Flacco to his “mantle.” The four-time Pro Bowler has never sacked Flacco.
“Man, really just getting after Flacco,” Parsons said. “I haven’t had Flacco yet. I need him, I want him. It’s time to go get him. It’s just about that QB right in front of me. I don’t want to look past him. I need him.”
Parsons’ being traded to the Packers from the Dallas Cowboys shook up the NFL world. Parsons is a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate and will be the anchor of Green Bay’s defense for years to come. But Flacco, who is in his 18th season, wasn’t necessarily surprised by the trade.
“Nothing really surprises me. It’s still fun to talk about things like that, but I think you’re aware that pretty much anything can happen,” Flacco said. “And then when you watch him play, I think it’s pretty obvious. I mean, it’s no more obvious to me than any of you guys what he brings to a team just in terms of his ability to line up anywhere and you know, to get after the quarterback a little bit.”
Browns QB Joe Flacco Looking for Bounce Back Performance
Flacco will be looking to bounce back after a rough Week 2 performance during a 41-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens — his former team. He completed 25 of 45 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown. However, Flacco also turned the ball over twice. He threw an interception that was nearly returned for a score and had a late fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
The challenge won’t get easier against the 2-0 Packers, who have given up just 15.5 points per game. Nullifying the pass-rush — led by Parsons — with quick throws will be a significant part of the plan for Flacco and the offense.
“When you build a plan, you build a plan for certain things. And I think when you go through your progressions, and you go through your reads; it’s always built to get the ball out in certain timing,” Flacco said. “So, I think you just gotta kind of rely on your training and going through your progressions and listening to your feet. I think the rest will take care of itself. It’s just part of the game. I think there’s other things that come into play when you talk about their pass rush, as opposed to worrying about trying to get the ball out super-fast, it’s just part of your reads, and that should happen on certain plays.”
Browns Sticking With Joe Flacco Despite Turbulence
Flacco’s uninspiring performance generated some discussion about replacing him with rookie Dillon Gabriel. However, the Browns are not ready to hand the reins over to Gabriel just yet.
“We didn’t play well enough on offense, and we didn’t coach well enough on offense, and it’s never going to be about one person,” Stefanski said. “Joe knows there’s plays that he can be better, and it obviously starts with protecting the ball in this game, and he understands that, and that’s our focus moving forward.”
Flacco and the Browns are a 7.5-point home underdog against the Packers for the Week 3 affair. Cleveland has not started 0-3 since 2017, when the team went winless.
