Someway, somehow, the Cleveland Browns continue to win games despite being riddled with injuries. Among others, quarterback Deshaun Watson and star running back Nick Chubb suffered major ailments this season, and yet, the team has an 8-5 record and is in fifth place in the AFC.
One reason for the Browns’ success has been the play of veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who the team picked up a few weeks ago. Flacco, who is 38 years of age, hadn’t played this season until Week 13, and he led Cleveland to a 31-27 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Meanwhile, the Minnesota Vikings have been trying to stay in the thick of things ever since losing their starting QB, Kirk Cousins, to a season-ending torn Achilles in October. Joshua Dobbs has filled in for Cousins, but now they will be going with Nick Mullens this Sunday versus the Cincinnati Bengals.
With Flacco being demoted to Cleveland’s practice squad on Monday, there is an opportunity for Minnesota to snag him in order to bolster its playoff hopes. Andrew Fillipponi, a host on 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh, suggested the Vikings make Flacco an offer he may not be able to refuse.
NFL News & Rumors: Joe Flacco, Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings Updates
If one wants to put on his or her tin foil hat, perhaps Fillipponi suggested this in order to weaken the Browns, who have always been a hated rival of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It’s hard to imagine Flacco leaving the Browns. They don’t have any great options other than him, as P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson, both of whom have completed fewer than 54 percent of their pass attempts this year, are their only other available signal-callers.
But if the Vikings can get their hands on Flacco, it would help them ensure they reach the postseason. They’re currently in sixth place in the NFC, but they will be at the Cincinnati Bengals this weekend, and after that, they will have two contests against the Detroit Lions before the end of the regular season.
Although it seems like 100 years ago, Joe Flacco led the 2012 Baltimore Ravens, who had a relatively modest 10-6 regular season record, to the Super Bowl championship over the San Francisco 49ers despite being underdogs. His veteran experience could very well push Minnesota over the top.
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