QB Joe Flacco helps Browns make history in playoff-clinching win

The Browns (11-5) clinched a playoff berth with their 37-20 win over the Jets (6-10) in Week 17 and QB Joe Flacco's fourth straight win helped them make history.

Cleveland is now the first team in NFL history to make the playoffs after starting four different quarterbacks in the same season, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Flacco became the Browns' fourth starter (Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson and PJ Walker) in Week 13 when he took over following Watson's season-ending shoulder injury. He may just be the best out of all of them.

Flacco's late-season heroics have led to one of the biggest surprises of the 2023 season. He has led Cleveland to four wins in the past five weeks, throwing for 1,616 yards, 13 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

The Browns' playoff-clinching win is even more impressive considering that they have seen several other injuries to key players outside of their quarterback room. 

RB Nick Chubb, offensive linemen Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills and Dawand Jones, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo and safety Grant Delpit have all suffered significant injuries as well.

Cleveland can lock up the No. 5 seed in the AFC with a win over the Bengals (8-8) in its regular-season finale next weekend. 

If Flacco can deliver the team's fifth straight win, the Browns will face the winner of the AFC South in the first round of the playoffs. They have already defeated the Jaguars, Colts and Texans this year.

Either way, Flacco is forcing Cleveland to make a difficult decision this offseason. Should the team stick with the 38-year-old or go back to Watson?

It would likely take Flacco leading the Browns to the Super Bowl for them to consider keeping him as their starter. As unlikely as it sounds, it's possible. Flacco has the offense clicking, averaging 31 points per game on the team's four-game win streak.