By TOM WITHERS | AP Sports Writer
CLEVELAND — Joe Flacco has turned a seemingly cursed season into a charmed one.
Cleveland’s quarterback for just over a month, 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 37-20 victory over the New York Jets on Thursday night.
The Browns (11-5) are assured of at least a wild-card berth 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.
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.
In the final minutes, Browns fans chanted “Flac-co! Flac-co!” to a quarterback they once reviled with Baltimore and now revere.
“You don’t know how many of these moments you’re going to get,” Flacco said. “I’m going to remember this for the rest of my life.”
Flacco threw two touchdown 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 left Achilles tendon in Week 1.
Flacco torched New York for 296 yards in the first half and became the first quarterback in 34 games to pass for more than 300 yards against the Jets. He’s also the first Cleveland quarterback to pass for more than 300 in four straight.
Flacco insisted revenge wasn’t on his mind, but Jets receiver Garrett Wilson said the QB was out to prove something.
“He’s wound like that,” Wilson said. “He told me at the end of last season, he wasn’t going to be a backup. He was going to play and he held to that. Joe’s a great guy. The type of teammate you want. He deserves everything.”
The atmosphere was electric from the start inside Cleveland Browns Stadium as fans who have felt mostly heartbreak for decades got a chance to celebrate.
“It was special,” Flacco said. “This is obviously a unique situation for me, so I’ve got a lot of different emotions running through my head.”
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 the first quarter was returned 30 yards for a touchdown by safety Ronnie Hickman to put the Browns ahead 20-7.
New York allowed a season-high in points and yards (428). Although the Jets gave up just 61 yards in the second half, they dug themselves too big a hole.
Jets linebacker 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.
NEW GUYS
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 for 5 on extra-point attempts and made a 33-yard field goal with 2:54 left.
Haack averaged 51.7 yards on three punts.
GARRETT & GARRETT
Browns star defensive end Myles Garrett ended a five-game streak without a sack by taking down Siemian in the first half.
Garrett played with a heavy heart, disclosing after the game that his uncle, Chris Johnson, died on Christmas.
“Still hard to believe,” he said. “I was speechless then. I really just don’t know how to put it into words now. I’ve had headaches just daily just because I don’t know how to handle it emotionally. So it just comes out in different ways, like just pains. I feel like sometime in a fog.”
Wilson went over 1,000 yards receiving for the second straight season. He also did it as a rookie in 2022 and is one of 10 active players with two 1,000-yard seasons to start their career.
SCARY MOMENT
Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore suffered a head injury in the second quarter.
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After catching a 22-yard pass from Flacco, Moore’s helmet was driven into the turf as he went down. He rolled onto his back and appeared to twitch as teammates quickly called for medical personnel.
Moore, who spent the past two seasons with the Jets, was helped off the field and escorted to Cleveland’s locker room.
INJURIES
Jets: Wide receiver Allen Lazard (illness) was among the team’s inactives. … Right guard Jacob Hanson suffered a concussion and was replaced by Xavier Newman, who was helped off the field in the fourth quarter with an unspecified injury.
Browns: Cooper came in listed questionable, but was expected to play. However, after he tested a heel injury during an on-field workout, the Browns opted to have him sit rather than risk more damage. … Cornerback Mike Ford Jr. (calf) got hurt covering a kick in the first quarter.
UP NEXT
The Jets close their season at New England on Jan. 7.
The Browns play at in-state rival Cincinnati on Jan. 7.
