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Joe Flacco, the quarterback for the playoff-bound Cleveland Browns, and other starters will not play in Sunday’s meaningless game against the Cincinnati Bengals.FILE – After thatOn Friday, July 28, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona, during NFL football training camp practice at State Farm Stadium, quarterback Jeff Driskel of the Arizona Cardinals yells signals. Along with a few other regulars, Joe Flacco will miss Cleveland’s regular-season finale at Cincinnati to rest for the playoffs. Jeff Driskel, a franchise record fifth quarterback to start for the team this season, will start for Cleveland. The Browns have “earned” the right to rest players, according to coach Kevin Stefanski, and he plans to bench a few key players on Sunday.vA PLAYER FOR BENGALS TO WATCH: DE With a career-high 17 sacks, Trey Hendrickson and T.J. Watt of Pittsburgh are tied for first place in the NFL. Following his strip-sack of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes last week, he had at least one full sack in seven consecutive games. Since the NFL started keeping track of sacks in 1982, no player from Cincinnati has held the top spot. On Wednesday, Hendrickson was selected to the Pro Bowl.\v\KEY INJURIES: Browns K Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) may miss his next game in a row, and it’s unknown if he’ll be ready for the postseason. Hopkins was the most accurate kicker in the NFL before to suffering an injury against Houston on December 23. WR Elijah Moore of the Browns (concussion) stayed in protocol following his injury last week. After missing two games due to a pectoral injury, Browns DE Ogbo Okoronkwo may return. P Corey Bojorquez of the Browns (quad) will return after missing one game due to injury. Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who was selected to the Pro Bowl on Wednesday, stated earlier in the week that he intends to compete despite still healing from a damaged shoulder joint. Tight end Tee Higgins of the Bengals (hamstring) is doubtful.NOTES about the series: The Browns have prevailed in nine of the previous 11 encounters and six of the last seven. Cincinnati has faced Cleveland in more games (100) than any other opponent, with the exception of Pittsburgh (109). It was the Browns’ first season sweep of the Bengals since 2002 when they defeated Cincinnati in 2018. The greatest winning run for Cincinnati was seven in 2014–17. From 1992 to 1995, the Browns won seven games in a row. On January 9, 2022, Cincinnati fell to Cleveland 21–16 when the Bengals rested the most of their starters in preparation for the postseason. The Bengals made it to the championship game.DATA AND STUFF: Last week, the Browns secured their third postseason appearance since 1999. With 11 victories, Cleveland is tied for the second-most in team history. In 1986, the Browns had a 12-4 record. Since 1999, the Browns have not had a five-game winning streak. Stefanski would only reveal Flacco’s name, but DE Pro Bowl players Myles Garrett, WR Amari Cooper, LG Joel Bitonio, CB Denzel Ward, and TE David Njoku all anticipated to sit.DATA AND STUFF: The Browns made it to the postseason for the third time since 1999 last week. Cleveland is tied for the second-most victories in team history with 11. The Browns finished 12-4 in 1986. The Browns haven’t won five straight games since 1999. DE Pro Bowl players Myles Garrett, WR Amari Cooper, LG Joel Bitonio, CB Denzel Ward, and TE David Njoku are expected to sit, but Stefanski would only divulge Flacco’s name.In the wild-card round, Cleveland will play the AFC South champion, who has not yet been chosen. Since joining on November 20, Flacco has performed significantly better than anticipated. As a starter, he is 4-1 and has passed for 13 touchdowns and 1,616 yards, which are league highs since Week 13. The first quarterback in Cleveland history to throw for at least 300 yards in four straight games is Flacco, who turns 39 on January 16. Only eight teams have won with four quarterbacks since 1950, including the Browns. The only other club to win five games is the New England Patriots in 1987.Despite having the highest number of giveaways in the NFL (21 interceptions and 14 fumbles), the Browns have managed to win. Njoku has six touchdowns and 81 receptions, leading Cleveland. Hopkins needs four more points to surpass Jim Brown’s record of 126 points for a single season. After replacing the injured starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who tore a ligament in his wrist on November 16, Bengals quarterback Jake Browning is 3-3 as the starter.With 17 sacks, Hendrickson trails only DE Coy Bacon in franchise history, who recorded 22 in 1976. The Bengals did not win the AFC North and make it to the postseason for the first time since 2020, during Burrow’s rookie campaign. Cincinnati is 7-3 in its 16 games this season and has won the turnover battle in 10 of them. With just two fumble losses on offense, Cincinnati has the fewest in the NFL.
