The Cleveland Browns have been decimated by injuries but thanks in large part to currently starting quarterback Joe Flacco, the team is in line to make the playoffs. The Browns are currently 9-5 and hold the fifth seed in the AFC North and if they win out could potentially win the AFC North depending on the Baltimore Ravens outcomes.
This has brought up the question if Joe Flacco should win the 2023-24 NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award. As of this writing, Joe Flacco is sitting in third place in the consensus odds to win the award (+1200). What are the chances he is able to win the award and who is ahead of him at this moment?
What are the current Comeback Player of the Year odds?
With the Sunday afternoon slate of Week 16 on Christmas Eve games being played as of this writing, the Comeback Player of the Year Award odds seem to be a one-man race. Below is the top five odds-getters according to the best odds you can get.
- Damar Hamlin (-650)
- Matthew Stafford (+1000)
- Joe Flacco (+1200)
- Baker Mayfield +(1400)
- Tua Tagovailoa (+1600)
While it is going to be difficult to surpass the story of Damar Hamlin even returning to the Buffalo Bills after suffering a near-fatal cardiac arrest, things are closer than people would tend to believe.
Why should Joe Flacco win the award?
Joe Flacco was an unsigned free agent one month ago and now has been playing well to make things interesting for the Cleveland Browns. He is now 2-1 as the starting quarterback as he was signed “off the street” and immediately jumped to the starting quarterback. If you were to add the one touchdown pass he has in Week 16 as of this writing, he has eight passing touchdowns to five interceptions.
That may not sound entirely great but put in perspective where that places him. That eight touchdown passes ties him with Zach Wilson (12 games), Will Levis (eight games), Tommy DeVito (eight games) and Jake Browning (eight games). He is climbing up the rankings and could get as high as 15 passing touchdowns when the season concludes.
If the Cleveland Browns are able to win the AFC North, a lot of that falls on Flacco’s shoulders. While it is unlikely, the Browns have the Houston Texans, New York Jets and Cincinnati Bengals remaining on the schedule. If they were to win out, that would make Flacco 5-1 as a starting quarterback this season.
It is going to be difficult for anyone to supplant Damar Hamlin but don’t count out the elite Joe Flacco.
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