INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Joe Flacco stepped behind center for his first NFL game since January and immediately led the Browns on a long scoring drive.
Cleveland’s 36-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams rarely went that smoothly again.
Yet the 38-year-old Flacco left his still-new teammates confident that the quarterback position is no longer this team’s biggest area of concern while they attempt to rebound from their first losing streak of the season this week.
Flacco began his 16th season in the NFL on Sunday, and the former Super Bowl MVP performed remarkably well, considering he only joined Cleveland’s practice squad two weeks ago and officially got the starting assignment Friday.
Flacco went 23 of 44 for 254 yards and two touchdowns, throwing his only interception midway through the fourth quarter while Cleveland attempted to rally from a one-point deficit.
Matthew Stafford threw three touchdown passes for LA, which won its third straight game.