CLEVELAND — Less than two months ago, Super Bowl MVP QB Joe Flacco was sitting on his couch unsigned, waiting for a call from an NFL team to give him another opportunity.
After Deshaun Watson's season-ending shoulder injury, that opportunity for Flacco came via the Cleveland Browns.
Since coming to Cleveland at the end of November, the 38-year-old has helped the team defy the odds and clinch an unlikely spot in the playoffs -- given the multitude of injuries the Browns have faced.
Following last night’s 37-20 playoff-clinching victory over the New York Jets, Flacco now stands as one of the favorites to win the AP Comeback Player of the Year award.
The oddsmaker’s faith in Flacco has grown immensely as he now sits as the non-Damar Hamlin favorite to win the award with odds of +100, according to DraftKings.
Full list of odds for Comeback Player of the Year via DraftKings:
Damar Hamlin: -150
Joe Flacco: +100
Baker Mayfield:+1,000
Tua Tagovailoa:+2,000
Matthew Stafford: +5,000
Lamar Jackson: +15,000
T.J. Watt: +25,000
Gardner Minshew II: +25,000
Russell Wilson: +30,000
Jake Browning: +50,000
Kyler Murray: +50,000
Since joining the Browns, Flacco has thrown for 1,616 yards and 13 touchdowns, the most by a Browns' player in their first five starts. Flacco is also the only Browns' player to throw for 300 yards in four consecutive games.
After clinching a spot in the playoffs for just the third time since 1999, the Cleveland Browns' Super Bowl odds have also skyrocketed.
Following Deshaun Watson’s injury, as of Nov. 16, the odds for the Cleveland Browns to win the Super Bowl plummeted to a mere +4,500. After overcoming significant injuries and the resurgence of Flacco, the Browns’ current Super Bowl odds sit at +3,000.
Flacco isn’t the only Browns' player considered a realistic favorite to take home an award. DE Myles Garrett currently sits atop the favorites for Defensive Player of the Year, with the odds at -235.
In addition, head coach Kevin Stefanski has made quite the campaign for himself to be named NFL Coach of the Year after leading the team to 11 wins and clinching a playoff spot.