Oct 13, 2024; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws during pregame warmups against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.
The Cleveland Browns employed an absolutely fantastic defense in 2023, and when Deshaun Watson fell injured midseason, veteran quarterback Joe Flacco took over QB1 and helped guide the Browns to the postseason.
Onlookers re-fell in love with Flacco because wins piled into the standings — even if Cleveland’s defense was largely responsible for the prosperity.
So, when Flacco, now a member of the Indianapolis Colts, the Vikings’ Sunday Night Football opponent, got the nod as QB1, some fans rolled their eyes and feared he might terrorize an ailing Vikings defense.
Well, there’s one reason not to fear Flacco over benched quarterback Anthony Richardson: if Vikings fans are at a point in the 2024 regular season when they’re scared of 39-year-old Flacco, the season is toast anyway.
That’s right — shivering in one boots about a non-mobile, almost-40 Flacco is what a trashy team would do. Conversely, folks should be worried that Richardson would “figure it out” in real-time against Minnesota. He won’t get that chance, as Flacco took the QB1 baton from Colts head coach Shane Steichen this week.
Indeed, Flacco can fling the rock and might even post sweet numbers at Minnesota. However, if folks are anxiety-riddled about Flacco coming to the Twin Cities, the 2024 season is already kaput. Stick a fork in it. Flacco might be the worst — definitely the oldest — quarterback left on the Vikings’ agenda.
Instead of quivering over Flacco’s elderly upside, daydream about a get-right game for Brian Flores’ defense. His unit was utterly picked apart in the last two games, wildly overdue for a resurgence. One might argue that Flacco is perfect for the assignment because the guy is guaranteed to make some mistakes. Even with the Browns in 2023, Flacco made clumsy errors. It’s just that nobody cared because the Browns’ defense masked all sins, and Cleveland put wins on scoreboards in December.
Colts head coach Shane Steichen said Wednesday, a day after Richardson’s QB2 relegation: “Joe gives us the best chance to win right now. With that being said, not giving up on Anthony by any means.”
Perhaps the Vikings dodged a bullet by not drawing Richardson, who has the raw talent to create monster plays.
The aforementioned Flores said about Richardson earlier this week, “I know there’s been a lot of talk about the play where he came out, but did you watch the play? I mean, the guy throws a 300-pounder off him, runs around. I thought it was an incredible play, I mean, I got tired watching him.”
“I think he’s a very talented young player. He’s a dangerous player. Any snap he can break a couple tackles and go the distance. He’s fast, got a huge arm… Even when not every throw is perfect for him, he still has that explosive play ability,” Flores added.
Flores gets it.
Flacco might play great on Sunday, but if the Vikings’ defense can’t handle a past-his-prime dude who’s almost 40, the 2024 campaign is already heading toward a 2016-like faceplant.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
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