CLEVELAND — For the first time in Joe Flacco's career, he won a game in Cleveland and sent Browns fans home happy.
Flacco stole the show in leading the Browns to their eighth victory of the year (8-5) throwing for 311 yards and three touchdowns.
It was performance good enough to earn him the starting quarterback role for the rest of the season, according to head coach Kevin Stefanski.
When asked if Flacco would be the starter for the rest of the season, Stefanski simply said, "Yes."
"Obviously, today we knew that today was not a playoff game, but it’s going to feel like a playoff game, and it was because that’s a very good football team," Stefanski continued. "So we knew what this game was going to be about, we knew what type of matchup it was, knew what type of fight it was going to be. ... Joe’s been in big games, so we feel comfortable with him leading the football team."
Flacco added another chapter to his dominant 10-2 record in Cleveland Sunday, thankfully in a Browns uniform this time. His 10th win as a starting QB inside Cleveland Browns Stadium ties him for the third-most victories by any QB since 1999.
From an overall standpoint, he also earned his 100th career regular-season win.
"I was aware of it," Flacco said of the milestone. "Not during the game and things like that, but you are aware of it, and I’m definitely proud of it when it's all said and done."
The whirlwind that has been the Browns' quarterback situation will now be solidified by Flacco, who became the fourth quarterback to win a game for the team this year. All of his TD passes went for at least 30 yards, making him the first Cleveland QB to achieve that feat in one game since Brian Sipe's MVP season back in 1980.
"We've still got to go take care of business and get better and better, and that's really my main focus," Flacco told reporters of the adversity he and the team are facing. "I don't want to look at what the situation I was coming in is. Like, listen, we still have to go out there and make the most of what we have."
Flacco will now focus on solidifying the Browns' playoff position as Cleveland now owns the best record among other AFC teams in the wild-card hunt. The Browns sit one game ahead of Indianapolis and Houston after both teams lost in Week 14.
"We have a team that is ready to win regardless of who's playing [quarterback], and we've found this season that we have to deal with injuries just like the rest of the NFL," Stefanski said. "Everybody's dealing with injuries and we always use it as an opportunity. I think that's what we're doing."
More Browns Coverage on WKYC.com:
- Sunday smiles! Cleveland Browns overcome a few blunders to earn crucial 31-27 win over Jacksonville Jaguars
- Reports: Grant Delpit agrees to 3-year contract extension with Cleveland Browns
- Cleveland Browns rookie RT Dawand Jones to miss game vs Jacksonville Jaguars, QB Joe Flacco elevated from practice squad