Browns pound Jets to clinch a playoff berth
Joe Flacco passed for 309 yards and three touchdowns and the Browns clinched an unlikely playoff berth — just their second since 2002 — despite numerous injuries this season with a 3720 win over the Jets at Cleveland Thursday night.
The Browns (11-5) are assured of a wild-card spot and still have a chance to win the AFC North and maybe the conference's No. 1 overall seed, something that seemed unfathomable just weeks ago as major injuries piled up.
But things have changed since Flacco arrived. Cleveland has been charmed.
The 38-year-old quarterback improved to 4-1 as a starter with the Browns, who plucked the Super Bowl 47 MVP off his couch in New Jersey last month to hopefully rescue their season. He's done that and more.
Flacco threw two TD passes to Jerome Ford in the first half as the Browns built a 20-point lead over the Jets (6-10), who chose not to re-sign the 15-year veteran after he spent three seasons with them — and after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles’ tendon in Week 1.
Flacco torched New York for 296 yards in the first half and became the first QB in 34 games to go over 300 yards against the Jets. He's also the first Cleveland quarterback to pass for more than 300 in four straight.
The Jets were forced to start Trevor Siemian for the second week in a row with Zach Wilson sidelined by a concussion.
Siemian had some nice moments, but an overthrow late in first quarter was returned 30 yards for a TD by safety Ronnie Hickman to put the Browns up 20-7.
New York’s Jermaine Johnson had a pick-6 in the second quarter when he beautifully deflected Flacco’s pass to himself and returned it 37 yards.
Nothing has been easy this season for the Browns, who have continued to win despite being overrun by injuries since the opener. Flacco is their fourth starting quarterback, they’re missing both first-team offensive tackles and 12 players — including QB Deshaun Watson and running back Nick Chubb — are on injured reserve.
So, it was fitting they went into their biggest game this season missing their starting kicker, punter and wide receiver Amari Cooper, who was coming off a franchise record-setting 265-yard performance on Sunday in Houston.
The Browns got their first looks at kicker Riley Patterson and punter Matt Haack, both signed earlier this week.
Patterson, filling in for an injured Dustin Hopkins, went 4 of 5 on extra points and made a 33yard field goal with 2:54 left.
Haack averaged 51.7 yards on three punts. Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett ended a five-game streak without a sack by taking down Siemian in the first half.
Texans QB Stroud to start
Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud said Thursday he will start this weekend against the Titans after missing two games recovering from a concussion.
“It was tough," he said. “But my team, they held it down as best as they could and I appreciate that. Now I’m back and I’m happy to be here.
“I’m happy to just do my job again. It was tough but we’re through it now and I’m excited to play.”
Stroud was injured in a Dec. 10 loss to the Jets when his head bounced off the turf after taking a hit with about 6½ minutes left in the fourth quarter.
“I’ve had concussions before but this one was probably the worst one I’ve had just because I hit the back of my head and I hit the ground really hard,” he said. “So that was what made it so bad . . . I [basically] hit my head on cement.”
Stroud’s return will be a huge boost to the Texans, who beat the Titans in overtime before losing to the Browns in the past two weeks with Case Keenum filling in for the star rookie.
Stroud, drafted second overall, has thrown for 3,631 yards and 20 touchdowns with just five interceptions this season.
Sunday’s game is a big one for the Texans (8-7), who remain in contention for both the AFC South title and a wild-card playoff spot, but a loss Sunday would drop their chances to reach the postseason for the first time since 2019 to just 13%.
Vikings turn to QB Hall
The Vikings have switched starting quarterbacks for the fourth time in nine weeks, handing the offense again to rookie Jaren Hall with two must-win games left for making the playoffs.
Coach Kevin O’Connell said Hall will start Sunday against Green Bay, benching Nick Mullens after his six interceptions in two games doomed the Vikings to defeat despite passing for 714 yards. Mullens was picked off four times last week against Detroit in a 30-24 loss.
Hall was the first sub summoned for Kirk Cousins, who tore his Achilles’ tendon Oct. 29 in the fourth quarter of a 24-10 win at Green Bay. Hall, a fifth-round draft pick from BYU, started the following week at Atlanta with Mullens sidelined by a back injury.
Hall suffered a concussion in the first quarter that put Joshua Dobbs into action. Dobbs made four starts before a healthy Mullens took over.
Hall is 8 for 10 for 101 yards passing and one sack plus four rushes for 10 yards this season.