CINCINNATI (AP) — After opening the season as the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns facing the Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Flacco will close the season as the backup for the Bengals as they face the Browns on Sunday.
Flacco was dealt to the Bengals in October and made six starts for the Bengals while Joe Burrow was out with a toe injury.
“I don’t really think about putting a label on it,” Flacco said. “It’s crazy. Seasons always go by quick once they’ve started. But the way that this one went, it seems like it flew by.”
During the summer, in Cleveland Browns training camp, Flacco won a competition for the starting quarterback job and made four starts for Cleveland. In Week 1 against the Bengals, Flacco threw for 290 yards.
He said that over the past 17 weeks, he has seen improvement from the Bengals defense. Now, he refers to the Bengals defense as his team’s defense.
“We’re stopping the run,” Flacco said. “We’re getting more pressure on the quarterback. When you combine those two things, it’s going to help you out.”
While Flacco went 1-5 as a starter in Cincinnati, the 40-year-old played well. He threw for at least 200 yards in four of his six starts, and the Bengals offense averaged more than 27 points per game.
Flacco said that he developed a lot of respect for Bengals coach Zac Taylor.
“He has a lot of strengths,” Flacco said. “He’s really good at what he does. His demeanor, his overall personality and the way he leads men is really good. The way he puts game plans together. Also, he’s willing to allow it to be collaborative. That’s a strength. His game day play-calling is also something he does really well.”
Burrow took over as the starter when he returned on Thanksgiving, and Flacco has been the backup over the past month.
Flacco will be a free agent again at the end of the season. As he evaluates his options, he’s hoping to find another chance to play and to start.
“That’s always a priority,” Flacco said. “I’m somebody who wants to play football. You’ve got to assess and see whatever is thrown your way. You have to go from there and see what you can do about it.”
He said that he’d be open to returning to the Bengals, but he’ll weigh several factors.
“I haven’t really thought about it,” Flacco said. “I don’t hope to do anything. I have an idea of maybe of what some goals would be. I’ll go from there and see what happens.”
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco throws during pregame warmups before an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) calls a play during the second half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Arttu Valola scored at 2:11 of overtime and Finland stunned the two-time defending champion United States 4-3 on Friday night in the world junior hockey quarterfinals.
Michigan State's Lee Ryker tied it for the United States with 1:33 left in regulation and Notre Dame goalie Nick Kempf off for an extra attacker.
Lee Tuuva and Joona Saarelainen scored in a 55-second span in the third to give Finland a 2-1 lead. Tuuva tied it at 2 with 7:17 left, then set up Saarelainen's go-ahead goal with 6:22 remaining. Saarelainen also assisted on Tuuva's goal.
Boston University defenseman Cole Hutson had a goal and an assist for the United States after being struck in the back of the head by a shot against Switzerland and missing two games.
BU teammate Cole Eiserman gave the United States a 2-1 lead on a power play with 9:45 left in the second period. He took a feed from Hutson and beat Petteri Rimpinen with a oner-time from the right side.
Hutson scored on a rush 35 seconds into the second. Heikki Ruohonen tied it at 4:46 on a quick shot from the left side.
The Americans lost their last two games in the tournament — falling 6-3 to Sweden on Wednesday night in the group finale — after winning their first three.
In the late game at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Canada faced Slovakia.
In the first quarterfinal in St. Paul, Anton Frondell scored twice in Sweden's 6-3 victory over Latvia. Defenseman Leo Sahlin Wallenius had a goal and two assists to help the Swedes remain perfect in five games.
In Minneapolis, Czechia beat Switzerland 6-2. Tomas Galvas, Samuel Drancak, Adam Jiricek. Petr Sikora, Jiri Klima and Jakub Fibigr scored for the Czechs.
Germany won the relegation game in Minneapolis, beating Denmark 8-4. Manuel Schams scored twice to help Germany keep its spot next year in the main event. Denmark dropped to Division I-A.
AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports
Sweden defenseman Sascha Boumedienne, center, celebrates with forwards Victor Eklund, left, and Sweden Ivar Stenberg, right, after scoring a goal during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey championship quarterfinal game against Latvia, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Finland forward Heikki Ruohonen (28) celebrates with defenseman Veeti Vaisanen (13) after scoring a goal during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinals game against the United States, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Finland forward Heikki Ruohonen celebrates after scoring a goal during the second period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinals game against the United States, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
United States forward Ryker Lee, front right, celebrates after scoring during the third period of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinals game against Finland, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
Finland goalie Petteri Rimpinen (30), left, celebrates with teammates after an overtime win against the United States of an IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship quarterfinals game, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
