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At some point, the sight of a one-time Super Bowl MVP for the Baltimore Ravens starting for a former rival will feel normal and regular. We are not at that point yet.
When Joe Flacco trots onto the field today at 4:25 p.m. ET to lead the Cleveland Browns against the Los Angeles Rams, it’ll punctuate one of the more unexpected quarterback turns during a season that has been full of them. Off his couch, Flacco, 38, will start for a team he used to battle twice a year, a team that also has a legit chance at making the playoffs despite losing star QB Deshaun Watson.
What do those still associated with the Ravens think of this turn of events?
“It’s not like he’s going to the Steelers, man!” said former Baltimore great and Hall of Fame safety, Ed Reed, who won Super Bowl XLVII thanks in part to Flacco’s historic run through the playoffs. “He’s somewhere that actually has a connection to Baltimore. But I’m all for it. It might be a Cinderella thing, it might be awesome, if Joe can get them to the playoffs.”
As Reed notes, Flacco was his best in similar moments in Baltimore.
“He’s won a Super Bowl, and not many quarterbacks can say they won a Super Bowl,” Reed said. “He played his ass off during those whole playoffs.”
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