Throughout the offseason, quarterback Joe Flacco used every opportunity—from OTAs to the preseason—to master the offensive scheme and build chemistry with his teammates. Even while splitting practice repetitions in a four-way quarterback competition, Flacco effectively used his snaps to establish a strong rapport on the field.
Now, that extensive preparation culminates as he takes the field as the starter for the regular season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“No matter how long you’ve been in it, how many games you’ve played, they all feel pretty similar,” Flacco said. “We’re excited to get going. Anytime you haven’t been at it for six or seven months, you’re excited to get out there and see what the team is going to be made of.”
The matchup is an immediate and crucial test, pitting the Browns against an AFC North division rival.
A significant challenge for Flacco and the offense will be Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, who led the NFL last season with 17.5 sacks. Flacco acknowledged Hendrickson’s disruptive talent but stressed that the key to managing him is for the offense to rely on fundamentals and execute its game plan.
“These division games can be tough and they’re going to be a battle till the end, so you just got to make sure you’re ready to go,” Flacco said. “I think the way we prepare this week will tell us a lot about ourselves.”
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