CLEVELAND, Ohio — Joe Flacco will make his long-awaited return to the playoff stage this Saturday as the Browns’ starting quarterback against the Texans. It has been nine years since Flacco last started a playoff game, a feat he achieved on January 10, 2015, as a member of the Ravens. Remarkably, this nine-year gap between playoff starts ranks as the second-longest in NFL history for any quarterback.
The only quarterback to surpass Flacco’s record is Doug Flutie. Flutie started a playoff game for the Bears on January 3, 1987, and then went on to start a playoff game for the Bills on January 2, 1999, extending his gap to an astonishing length.
Flacco’s journey to this playoff opportunity has been nothing short of remarkable. Once seen as a discarded NFL starter, Flacco began this season without a job as a backup. However, when the Browns found themselves in need of someone to step up, Flacco answered the call and has outperformed Deshaun Watson, the injured season-long starter. The resurgence of Flacco stands as one of the most captivating stories in the NFL this year.
On the opposing side, Texans rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has also emerged as a standout player this season. The 22-year-old has taken the league by storm, earning recognition as one of its brightest young stars. When Stroud and the 38-year-old Flacco face off this Saturday, it will mark the fifth-largest age difference between starting quarterbacks in postseason history, excluding games involving Tom Brady.
The greatest age discrepancies in playoff games involve Brady, who notably faced Jalen Hurts in 2022, Patrick Mahomes in both 2019 and 2021, and Jared Goff in 2021.
While the youthful Stroud appears destined for numerous future playoff appearances, the same cannot be said for Flacco. This could potentially be his last playoff opportunity. Nonetheless, Flacco’s journey of redemption has been nothing short of extraordinary.
To summarize, Joe Flacco will make his return as the Browns’ starting quarterback in a playoff matchup against the Texans this Saturday. His nine-year hiatus from a playoff start is the second-longest in NFL history for a quarterback. The game will also showcase a significant age difference between Flacco and the promising rookie C.J. Stroud. Although Flacco’s future in the postseason remains uncertain, his comeback is a testament to resilience and perseverance.