Browns' Joe Flacco could've joined other team before win over Bears

It appears veteran quarterback Joe Flacco could've left the Cleveland Browns last week before he helped the club earn a come-from-behind 20-17 home win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. 

"Joe Flacco’s agent, Joe Linta, told me Sunday night he had 'two or three' teams inquire about signing Flacco last Monday, when the Browns put him on the practice squad for a day or two, for roster-management purposes," NBC Sports' Peter King wrote for his latest "Football Morning in America" column. "'Joe didn’t want to hear it,' Linta said. 'He absolutely wanted to stay in Cleveland. He loves the team. He really gets along well with [head coach Kevin Stefanski].'"

Flacco reportedly could've taken a gig with the "Inside the NFL" program for the ongoing campaign but instead remained an available free agent until he first joined the Browns after Week 11 and after starter Deshaun Watson was ruled out with a season-ending shoulder injury. The Super Bowl XLVII Most Valuable Player tossed three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, versus Chicago, but he also connected with Amari Cooper for a game-tying 51-yard touchdown pass with roughly three minutes remaining in regulation. 

Flacco, 38, is now 2-1 as a starter after becoming the fourth person to feature at quarterback for the Browns this season. 

"Yeah, I think he’s done unbelievable," Flacco told Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated about Stefanski possibly earning Coach of the Year honors. "I think he’s the first guy you should look at. Look at what he’s dealt with all year, how many different quarterbacks and linemen and whatever else you can name. He’s done an incredible job."

As of Monday afternoon, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the 9-5 Browns an 89.0% chance to make the playoffs. At that same time, oddschecker listed Stefanski as a +4000 betting underdog to win the Coach of the Year Award. To compare, Dan Campbell of the Detroit Lions topped the list at +300 odds. 

Cleveland next plays at the 8-6 Houston Texans this coming Sunday. On Monday, oddschecker had the Browns as 2.5-point underdogs for that matchup.