QB Joe Flacco, leads the Browns to a playoff victory while making history.

The Browns (11-5) secured a playoff spot with a 37-20 victory over the Jets (6-10) in Week 17, and QB Joe Flacco‘s remarkable fourth consecutive win played a crucial role in making history.

Flacco assumed the role of the Browns’ fourth starting quarterback (following Deshaun Watson, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, and PJ Walker) in Week 13, taking over after Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury. He has proven to be a standout among them. Flacco’s late-season performances have been a surprising highlight of the 2023 season, leading the Browns to four wins in the last five weeks. During this stretch, he accumulated 1,616 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions.

The significance of the Browns’ playoff-clinching victory is magnified by the numerous injuries to key players outside the quarterback position. Notable names like RB Nick Chubb, offensive linemen Jack Conklin, Jedrick Wills, and Dawand Jones, DE Ogbo Okoronkwo, and safety Grant Delpit have all faced significant setbacks.

Cleveland has the opportunity to secure the No. 5 seed in the AFC by defeating the Bengals (8-8) in their regular-season finale. If Flacco leads the team to a fifth consecutive victory, the Browns will face the winner of the AFC South in the first round of the playoffs. Having already triumphed over the Jaguars, Colts, and Texans this year, Flacco’s stellar performances are posing a challenging decision for the Browns this offseason. The question arises: stick with the 38-year-old Flacco or revert to Watson?

For the team to seriously consider retaining Flacco as the starter, it would likely require an improbable journey to the Super Bowl. However, considering Flacco has the offense operating at a high level, averaging 31 points per game during the four-game win streak, the possibility is not entirely out of reach.