Browns Digest

Browns QB Joe Flacco Throws Back-To-Back Pick-Six Plays

The interceptions likely spell the end of the Browns' remarkable run behind the 38-year-old QB

Anthony Poisal

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January Joe appears to have only been with the Browns for one half in their playoff game against the Texans.

Quarterback Joe Flacco threw back-to-back pick-six interceptions to open the second half for Cleveland, which faced a 10-point deficit starting the third quarter and now trails 38-14 after the two massive plays.

The first interception happened on a play where Flacco was hit as he threw. He appeared to be throwing the ball out of bounds, but the hit sent the ball high into the air and into the hands of Texans cornerback Steven Nelson.

What followed will haunt the Browns when they look back at the game — Nelson ran the ball back 82 yards for a touchdown.

The next sequence will haunt them, too.

Texans linebacker Christian Harris got his hands on another Flacco pass on the next play. He also had no Browns players in front of him when he secured the ball, allowing him to sprint 36 yards into the end zone.

Those plays are likely the daggers for the Browns, who have struggled to keep up with Texans QB C.J. Stroud — the rookie QB threw for 236 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, torching the Browns' top-ranked defense.

Those interceptions also put Flacco into infamous company — he's the first QB to throw multiple pick-sixes in the playoffs since Washington QB Todd Collins did so in 2007, per ESPN's Jake Trotter.

It's a tough way for Flacco's incredible run with the Browns to (likely) end, but turnovers had been an issue for him in the regular season, and it appears it'll one of the factors that send the Browns to an early exit in the playoffs.

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Anthony Poisal
ANTHONY POISAL

Anthony Poisal is a freelance writer who also writes about the Cleveland Browns for BetOhio.com. He was previously a staff writer for the Browns' team website and is an Ohio University alum. 

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