Amazing Joe Flacco TD stat highlights Jets' futility at quarterback

The New York Jets will get a look at what could have been when they play against quarterback Joe Flacco and the Cleveland Browns on Thursday night.

In four starts with Cleveland, Flacco is 3-1 and has thrown 10 touchdowns, the same number of  passing touchdowns New York has all season. The Jets haven't had a QB throw for more than nine TDs in a season since 2019. 

Flacco spent parts of three seasons with the Jets from 2020-2022, going 1-8 as the starter. In his sole win, over the Browns last season, he threw two touchdown passes to Garrett Wilson — the same number of TD catches the star second-year wideout has from New York's Zach Wilson. 

Despite Flacco's recent history with the Jets, however, New York wasn't interested in bringing him back this offseason or after Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1.

In a lost season for New York, head coach Robert Saleh and GM Joe Douglas have rightfully received heavy criticism for not having a serviceable backup quarterback. The team entered the season with Wilson as its No. 2 option, putting ill-advised trust in the 24-year-old. After Rodgers went down, the Jets doubled down on Wilson and chose not to add a veteran QB.

New York's QB carousel has continued spinning in Rodgers' absence, with Wilson, Tim Boyle and Trevor Siemian leading one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Although the Browns have had similar turnover at the position — Deshaun Watson, P.J. Walker and Dorian Thompson-Robinson have all played this season — they seem to have found their answer at QB in Flacco, a 16-year veteran they signed in November.

Saleh has remained adamant that he doesn't regret letting Flacco go, though the veteran's recent play certainly clouds the decision. In the past four games, Flacco has thrown for the most yards (1,307) in the NFL. Against the Jets, he has the opportunity to clinch the first playoff appearance for Cleveland (10-5) since 2020. 

Although Flacco has played well since coming off the couch, it doesn't necessarily mean he'd be achieving the same success with the Jets. Cleveland's offensive line has dealt with season-ending injuries to tackles Dawand Jones, Jedrick Wills and Jack Conklin but has still played effectively. New York's injury-ravaged offensive line, meanwhile, has given up 61 sacks — the second most in the NFL, per StatMuse.

Flacco may not have been the missing piece to transform the Jets into a playoff team. His resurgence, however, does shed light on New York's glaring refusal to sign a viable backup quarterback.

New York is unlikely to make the same error again this offseason, with Ryan Tannehill (Titans), Jacoby Brissett (Commanders), Jameis Winston (Saints) and other potential backups set to hit free agency.