Ahead of last week's game against the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said something that took the media by surprise. When speaking about Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco, Tomlin expressed his respect for the 40-year-old in a way we didn't see coming.
Tomlin talked about playing against the Indianapolis Colts last season, the team Flacco was the backup for, and telling his team not to let Flacco enter the game.
"We were in a similar situation a year ago," Tomlin said during his Week 4 presser, via Bleacher Report. We were in Indianapolis, and I commented to the guys to 'keep [Anthony] Richardson upright, and don't put [Joe] Flacco in the game. And Flacco ended up in the game."
This could have been more of a jab at Richardson than a pat on the back for Flacco, but it doesn't feel that way. Obviously, Flacco went on to beat the Steelers last year after entering the game and aiding the Colts' offense to 27 points. One year earlier, Flacco went 4-1 in five starts with the Cleveland Browns.
Tomlin just spilled the beans that he doesn't want to face Flacco and his nearly two decades of quarterback experience. What's hilarious is that the Browns refuse to take advantage of this knowledge.
The Cleveland Browns won't start Joe Flacco against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6
The Pittsburgh Steelers are on their bye week, but when they return, they will host the Cleveland Browns. Ironically, head coach Kevin Stefanski recently made the bold decision to switch quarterbacks. Flacco is exiting the starting lineup and is being replaced by third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel.
While the Browns' offense admittedly struggled early in the year, the timing of this change is bizarre. In his first-ever NFL game, Gabriel will face the Minnesota Vikings in an international game on Sunday before flying across the Atlantic Ocean to play in Pittsburgh against the Steelers. Meanwhile, Tomlin's team has two weeks to prepare to face Gabriel.
This worked out perfectly for the Steelers... and it's exactly what Tomlin wants. His comments last week made that crystal clear.
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Perhaps Gabriel will give the Browns a spark that nobody saw coming. However, at 5'11'' and 205 pounds soaking wet, Gabriel possesses well below average size and doesn't have a big arm to make up for it. Though Gabriel made wise decisions with the football last year with the Oregon Ducks, he's about to attempt to raise the performance of a dismal Browns offense in his first NFL action.
Tomlin and the Steelers are 11-11 all-time against veteran quarterback Joe Flacco. Meanwhile, Tomlin has a remarkable record of 26-6 against rookie quarterbacks. Seriously, Cleveland? What are you doing here?
Coach Tomlin just allowed the Cleveland Browns the opportunity to do exactly what he doesn't want them to, but the Browns refuse to take advantage. The Pittsburgh Steelers can't take Dillon Gabriel lightly in Week 6, but I can promise you they'd rather play against the third-round rookie in his second-ever NFL game than face Joe Flacco.