It is all fun and games for the Browns after their dazzling win over the Houston Texans that saw Flacco throw for 368 yards and 3 TDs while Cooper caught 11 passes for 265 yards and a pair of scores.
Can the Browns, led by Amari Cooper and Joe Flacco, stay hot and punch their playoff ticket against the Jets?
Thursday Night Football comes to Cleveland this week as the Browns matchup with the New York Jets looking to clinch a playoff berth. On paper, the Browns should be able to win easily as quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Amari Cooper look to continue their connection, but they can’t just expect to show up and win.
The Jets play hard and still have a solid defense. Last week, the offense was even able to put up a decent amount of points.
The pass rush for the Browns should be able to make it a long day for Jets quarterback Trevor Siemian behind an offensive line that has struggled. This week would be a great chance to figure out the run game against a Jets defense that often gets worn down in the second half because of the offensive struggles.
Kevin Stefanski’s team has refused to give up and truly embodies the “go 1-0 this week” mentality they keep preaching. In the end, I believe the Browns will finalize their playoff birth with a win over the Jets.
The Browns dominated the Texans behind the efforts of Amari Cooper and Joe Flacco. Here are the best pictures from this game.
We have reached the final stretch of the regular season for the Cleveland Browns as they look to make a push toward the playoffs. Quarterback Joe Flacco and wide receiver Amari Cooper have sparked this Cleveland passing attack, including a record-setting day against the Houston Texans, as the Browns may be catching fire at the right time.
But before turning the page to the New York Jets and Thursday night, we have a bit more recapping of this dominant win against the Texans. You know what they say: “Look good, feel good, play good.”
Here are the best action shots from Sunday’s game as the Browns now have an opportunity to clinch a playoff spot in front of their home crowd on Thursday night.
Quarterback Joe Flacco and the passing attack of the Cleveland Browns continued their assault in Houston to get the team’s tenth win of the year against the Texans. The Flacco to wide receiver Amari Cooper combination was unstoppable this week as the veteran wide receiver broke the Browns’ single-game receiving yardage record.
It truly has been fun to watch the evolution of this offense with Flacco under center as Kevin Stefanski and his quarterback are completely on the same page. The usage of play-action and misdirection has been beautiful despite the run game not being able to get anything going the last few weeks.
When you have a QB with the arm talent of Flacco and an offensive player caller with the creativity of Stefanski you get a passing offense that puts up great numbers week in and week out.
Here are the top 10 offensive players, according to PFF, from the team’s dominant win over the Texans on Christmas Eve to get the team one step closer to the postseason.
The 2023 season has been a crazy and wild ride for Cleveland Browns fans. With all the injuries and the highs and lows, right now it is fun being a Cleveland fan. And head coach Kevin Stefanski and wide receiver Amari Cooper had some fun in the locker room after the win over the Houston Texans.
Joe Flacco is playing like he is in his prime despite being 38 years old and only having been with the team for about a little over a month. But this roster knows that when they play to the level they are capable of they can stand against anyone. After the decisive win in the locker room, Cooper said exactly that.
“When we play our brand of football, nobody can play with us.”
It has been fun to see Stefanski’s post-game locker room speeches as he has his team bought into what he and the other coaches are preaching. This team has their head coach long term and with every game and every win that becomes more and more apparent.
when you want to open up all your presents but dad says you have to wait for the morning pic.twitter.com/v9QbUvYaJx
PK Dustin Hopkins – Hamstring
QB Trevor Lawrence – Shoulder
WR Jaylen Waddle – Shin
WR DJ Moore – Leg
WR Dontayvion Wicks – Chest
WR Jordan Addison – Ankle
WR Courtland Sutton – Head
TE T.J. Hockenson – Knee
TE Tucker Kraft –
TE Cole Kmet – Knee
Chasing Ambulances
QB Trevor Lawrence – The Jaguars quarterback was questionable last week, returning from a concussion and ankle injury but was active and did not appear limited. Until he injured his shoulder and missed the rest of the game. He’ll get tests on Monday to determine the extent of the injury but he took himself out of the game because of the pain. He has never missed a game, but will be replaced by C.J. Beathard.
WR Jaylen Waddle – Injured his shin on an end-around against the Cowboys and never returned to the field. He was limping significantly at the time but the diagnosis will happen on Monday. The Fins play at the Ravens this week and need all hands on deck for a game that likely determines the No. 1 seed.
WR DJ Moore –Â He said that he aggravated the ankle injury from a few weeks ago. He did return to the game and caught three of his six targets for only 18 yards in the win over the Cardinals. He’ll need to be tracked in practice this week to make sure he won’t be limited this week in Philly.
WR Jordan Addison –Â Injured his ankle when he collided with a teammate after an interception.
TE T.J. Hockenson – Injured his knee when a defender tackled him low. Both Viking receivers will be examined more on Monday to determine the extent of their injuries but HC Kevin O’Connell was asked if any of them were serious and he said, “I believe so.” We’ll see what their status is later in the week but the Vikings can ill afford to lose either.
WR Courtland Sutton – The Broncos star wideout has entered the concussion protocol after a hard hit against the Patriots. He left before he caught a pass and never returned. He’s been their difference-maker this year, so his health will be closely tracked to see if he can play against the Chargers this week.
TE Cole Kmet – He was already in the middle of a career-best game with 107 yards in the first half, when the Bears tight end left the game in the second quarter with a knee injury and was downgraded to out. HC Matt Eberflus reported that Kmet’s injury “looks positive.” More news should be known later this week.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QBNick Mullens – First start was 303 yards and two scores at the Bengals, then this week he threw for 411 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll be an option next week against the Packers but he also threw four interceptions and both Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson were injured, so make sure of their status before grabbing Mullens for the week.
RB Najee Harris – The usage of Harris has always varied and Jaylen Warren has often been talked up as the better back and more deserving of a primary role. But Week 16 saw Harris with a season-high 19 carries for 78 yards and a score in the win over the Bengals. Warren only carried eight times for 24 yards but added five catches for the second straight week. Both are signed through next year.
WR George Pickens – The Steelers No. 1 wideout has disappointed for the last two months while Kenny Pickett and Mitchell Trubisky took turns not throwing the ball well or in the area of Pickens. First week with Mason Rudolph and Pickens responds with a season-best four catches for 195 yards and two touchdowns. He was criticized last week for apparently giving up on plays. Something clicked because his previous meeting with the Bengals was only a month prior and he only managed three catches for 58 yards in it.
QB Josh Allen – The Bills have won their last three games, but Allen threw for just 94 yards and a score against the Cowboys, then 237 yards and one score versus the Chargers and their paper doll defense. He runs in a score weekly, but the offense is changing in Buffalo – just ask the player formerly known as Stefon Diggs.
TE Kyle Pitts – He’s been a shell of what he was as a rookie, but he is turning in around 50 yards per week and scored in two of the last three games. The Falcons may undergo change in the offseason that will impact Pitts, but he is improving just enough to end the season on a higher note.
RB Aaron Jones – He’s signed through next year when he turns 30, so it is notable that he’s finally healthy this season and just ran for a season-best 127 yards on 21 carries. He’s not done much as a receiver with Jordan Love, but he just had far more carries than his other 2023 games.
QB Bryce Young – His rookie season hasn’t been impressive and he’s been compared to C.J. Stroud in an unflattering light this year. But, he’s just thrown his first 300-yard game with 312 yards and two scores in the close loss to the Packers. D.J. Chark (6-98, 2 TD) and Adam Thielen (6-94) both were fantasy-relevant this week.
WR Amari Cooper – He just set a personal record with 265 yards on 11 catches with two scores versus the Texans. Not sure what is more impressive – that monster game or the fact that 16 other players have gained even more in a game. Six had 300 yards, and I do remember when Flipper Anderson set the record with 15 receptions for 336 yards in 1989 against the Saints in overtime.
Huddle player of the week
Syndication: The Record
Breece Hall –  He’s suffered behind a terrible offensive line that has worsened. And he plays with the worst passing offense in the NFL. So he’s more than remarkable this week with 20 carries for 95 yards and two touchdowns, plus 12 catches for 96 yards in the win over the Commanders.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Lakers superstar LeBron James was very impressed with the Browns’ big win and the performances of Joe Flacco and Amari Cooper on Sunday.
In the NFL this season, one big surprise has been the Cleveland Browns. Despite losing star running back Nick Chubb and starting quarterback Deshaun Watson for the year to injuries, they have continued to find ways to win games.
On Sunday, they were at it again, defeating a Houston Texans team that is fighting for a wild-card playoff spot in the AFC. Joe Flacco, the 38-yard-old quarterback who was signed recently after sitting to that point this season, threw for 368 yards and three touchdowns, while wide receiver Amari Cooper had 11 catches for a team-record 265 yards and two touchdowns.
LeBron James, an admitted Browns fan, showered both players with love on social media (h/t Lakers Daily).
#DawgPound LET’S GO!! 🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️. Flacco to Coooooooooooop for 6!
The Browns are 10-5, which puts them on the doorstep of only their third playoff appearance since they were reinstated as a franchise for the 1999 season.
The Browns have a new single-game receiving yards record holder in Amari Cooper, who let the world know after his game vs. the Texans
Wide receiver Amari Cooper had a record-setting day for the Cleveland Browns in their dominant win over the Houston Texans.
From the opening snap, catching a 53-yard bomb from quarterback Joe Flacco to finding the endzone twice in this game, Cooper was untouchable afternoon. He finished the game as the Briwns’ new single-game receiving yards record holder, breaking Josh Gordon’s decade-long mark, racking up 254 yards on 11 catches.
“I do truly feel like I’m unguardable. It’s all about opportunities, and I had a lot of opportunities today…”
You can find Cooper’s full postgame interview below.
As the Browns look to clinch their first playoff berth on Thursday night against the New York Jets, they will need more of the connection between Cooper and Flacco to get the job done. Going against Sauce Gardner on the other side of the football, Cooper needs to be on his A-game.
Amari Cooper after a MONSTER historic day:
“I do truly feel like I’m unguardable. It’s all about opportunities, and I had a lot of opportunities today…”
Amari Cooper put up video game numbers in Cleveland’s dominant win over Houston. Fans went wild on social media.
Former Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper went off on Christmas Eve for an impressive performance that left fans anything but speechless. The Cleveland Browns receiver was unstoppable against the Houston Texans.
On 11 catches, Cooper had 265 yards and two touchdowns for an average of 24.1 yards per catch.
The 2015 fourth overall pick is a veteran in the league but has been playing like one of the youngest, most-electric players in the NFL.
His performance sent shockwaves around the nation, forcing fans of all teams to take to social media to react. Here’s what some had to say online about Cooper’s big game.
The Browns, behind historic showings from Joe Flacco and Amari Cooper, beat down the Texans. Here is how Browns Twitter reacted.
What a day for the Cleveland Browns on the road in Houston as they secured a decisive victory. The game wasn’t nearly as close as the score at the end would suggest with two late scores against backups for the Texans. Quarterback Joe Flacco continues to tell Father time to leave him alone with another 300-yard passing game, with over 250 going to wide receiver Amari Cooper.
You could tell from the first play that Cooper and Flacco were in sync as the pair created big play after big play. It feels like we have not had a quarterback playing at a level like this consistently for a month since the return, it has been fun to watch.
The defense heard all of the noise about being unable to perform at a high level on the road. Though Myles Garrett didn’t get home Za’Darius Smith and company took care of that. The passing defense had one of its best coverage days to get the win, here is how Browns’ Twitter reacted.
