Cleveland Browns rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel once again saw the field, but it was in a very limited capacity against the Detroit Lions. In the end, Detroit ran through Cleveland, 34-10.
Despite the Browns getting a shocking win over the Green Bay Packers last week, they’ve looked horrendous. QB Joe Flacco is doing nothing to guide his team to victory, as HC Kevin Stefanski has two young QBs sitting on the sidelines.
Former NFL LB Pleads for Cleveland Browns QB Joe Flacco to be Benched
Through the first four weeks of the 2025 season, Flacco is 93/160 for 815 yards with two touchdowns and six interceptions. His TD:INT ratio leaves a lot to be desired, and he’s averaging just 5.1 yards per completion. With a 58.1% completion percentage, former NFL linebacker turned analyst Emmanuel Acho knows there are two young, hungry quarterbacks on the Browns bench just waiting for their numbers to be called.
(0:00:00) A DRAWWW?
(0:04:22) James Jones joins the Speakeasy
(0:10:48) Cowboys vs. Packers
(0:20:34) AJ Brown upset?
(0:37:23) Mahomes Beats Lamar
(0:46:03) Time to Bench Joe Flacco?
(0:49:09) Dart Wins Debut
(0:57:16) Caleb Turned the Corner?
(1:00:47) Rodgers Excelling in Pitt… pic.twitter.com/ycGfNL1I8L— Speakeasy (@speakeasytlkshw) September 29, 2025
“Bench Joe Flacco yesterday,” Acho said. “You’re not going anywhere this season, you’re only losing games, and you have two young quarterbacks that we need to see how good they are, and we need to see them develop. Bench Joe Flacco, immediately.
Acho continued, “If he has miscommunications with his wide receivers, let his wide receivers try to communicate with somebody else. Maybe somebody named Shedeur (Sanders), maybe somebody named Dillon Gabriel. But what Joe Flacco is putting out there, it is disgraceful and it is shameful to the game of football, if we’re being real with it. I don’t want to watch Joe Flacco take another snap as a starter this season.”
Of the four Browns players to have 100+ receiving yards, two of them are tight ends. It’s no surprise that WR Jerry Jeudy leads the team, though he only has 13 receptions through the first four games. The only other receiver with more than 100 yards is Cedric Tillman, who left the Lions game early due to a hamstring injury.
While Gabriel did appear in the Lions game, he threw just one pass. His counterpart, QB Shedeur Sanders, has yet to see the field in the regular season. It’s clear Stefanski sees more upside in his third-round pick, which is why Gabriel has attempted four passes in the regular season. Prior to the Lions game, he was 3/3 for 19 yards with a touchdown. His initial touchdown is a great sign, one that the Browns have done nothing with.
Acho pleaded for Flacco to ride the bench and go off into the sunset. At 40 years old, he can provide great guidance to Gabriel and Sanders, but he believes there’s no reason for him to still be QB1 in 2025. Through the first four weeks of the season, he’s received an F in PFSN’s QB Impact.
