CINCINNATI (AP) 鈥� After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.
Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 really think about putting a label on it,鈥� Flacco said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they鈥檝e started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.鈥�
During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.
He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team鈥檚 defense.
鈥淲e鈥檙e stopping the run,鈥� Flacco said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it鈥檚 going to help you out.鈥�
While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.
Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.
鈥淗e has a lot of strengths,鈥� Flacco said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he鈥檚 willing to allow it to be collaborative. That鈥檚 a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.鈥�
Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.
Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he鈥檚 hoping to find another chance to play and to start.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 always a priority,鈥� Flacco said. 鈥淚鈥檓 somebody who wants to play football. You鈥檝e got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.鈥�
He said that he鈥檇 be open to returning to the Bengals, but he鈥檒l weigh several factors.
鈥淚 haven鈥檛 really thought about it,鈥� Flacco said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I鈥檒l go from there and see what happens.鈥�
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