WATCH: Browns' Joe Flacco Hooks Up with David Njoku for Opening 34-Yard Touchdown Pass
The Browns wasted no time grabbing the lead on Sunday afternoon against Jacksonville. Kevin Stefanski flexed his play-calling muscle and Joe Flacco found a wide-open David Njoku for an opening drive touchdown.
The Browns got things started with a nice run, followed by a screen pass to Jerome Ford for two nice chunk plays.
Dec 10, 2023; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during warm ups before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
© Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
Flacco then found Cedric Tillman across the middle for a 14-yard completion to cross-midfield and set the Browns up in scoring position. After a first down run was stopped, Flacco floated a ball out to the left and Jerome Ford completed a juggling catch to get the Browns to 3rd and less-than-one.
The Browns would come out in a big personnel package and appeared as though they would try and run it up the middle. Instead, Flacco faked a handoff to Kareem Hunt and the Jaguars would cut Njoku free in the secondary.
Flacco let one of his signature floating passes fly down the left side of the field and Njoku was all alone. He hauled in the pass and leaped into the end zone, sending Cleveland Browns Stadium into a frenzy.
Flacco finished the drive 4-for-4with 65 yards and a touchdown.
Flacco to Njoku is the 16th touchdown pass that Flacco has thrown in his career in Cleveland Browns Stadium, but the first one he has had as a Cleveland Brown.
Cleveland leaned on the run game to get their offense going and found their passing attempts off of it. Expect more of that as Joe Flacco continues to get his footing as a Cleveland Brown.
