Cleveland Browns 36, Houston Texans 22?
Q. Need your arm iced down?
JOE FLACCO: It was a lot of fun. Really, I think we had a 19-play drive, at least that's what they said on the sideline. That was awesome.
Q. What can you say about Amari Cooper's performance?
JOE FLACCO: Oh, man, he's special. I mean, you know, we were able to get him open downfield a little bit but he was able to come up for some balls and be strong to the catch and all that stuff. He's a special player.
Q. The first one of the game, is Amari the read all the way?
JOE FLACCO: Just depends on what they play. They were in quarters there and you want to give him a shot. Not that he's like our biggest burner but man he did an awesome job on that route just pushing the corner and then splitting them.
Q. That fourth down with Amari, take us through that. Is that one of those, I know I've got him out there, though it his way and let Amari --
JOE FLACCO: The one I threw the pick on?
Q. The one on the sidelines.
JOE FLACCO: At the end of the game?
Q. On the 19-play drive.
JOE FLACCO: Yeah, I actually wasn't looking his way in the beginning, I don't think and I feel like I had to move a little bit and I had guys hanging on me and I kind of saw him over there on the sideline. It's fourth down. You've got to give him a chance.
Q. Did you realize that last pass to him set a record?
JOE FLACCO: I did. We were done. But when we took the field there, I did realize, somebody told me that he needed ten more yards to have a Browns record. Not that I was probably going to go out of my way. I didn't want to necessarily have to go out of my way to do it but the situation just made it.
Q. Is he one of those guys where he's covered --
JOE FLACCO: If you ask Camden for sure he's going to say that. He's told me a bunch of times, I'm 225, Cuz. Throw me the ball, basically. That's how he feels. I know that and I'm going to get more and more used to letting it go.
Q. Did you know when you guys came out that Amari was shy of a record like that and might not have an opportunity?
JOE FLACCO: I don't know. I have no idea if they knew at that point or not.
Q. During the week, Ryans talked about you wanting to go shotgun. Why was it -- there's no pass rush, is there any other reason?
JOE FLACCO: Listen, ask Kevin, putting together the scheme and stuff like that. Those guys, they play what they play, and they become very disciplined at that and get very good at that within their rules and that's what makes those guys a good defense, and you can see that in the run game right now.
I know you go into a game maybe thinking that but they are still going to play their defense and they tried to do a couple different things adjustment-wise. I think one of their corners went out for a little bit and they started to follow Amari at some point and I don't think it had to last too long. You can ask Kevin. Those guys put the game plan together and get guys open.
Q. How cool for you to throw for 300 yards in three straight games. Coming off the couch, you're winning games, how cool is it for you to accomplish this stuff?
JOE FLACCO: You know, there's probably a time in your career where you start to think about those things and obviously it's nice when it happens. But at this point, man, I'm so grateful just being in a position to win games and so that's the biggest thing. It really is such a singular focus of trying to win these games and everything else is secondary.
Q. You spent years building chemistry with guys before. How have you done with Amari?
JOE FLACCO: Listen, some of that stuff is overrated. When you have good football players, they know how to get open and you know how to throw them the ball. It's as simple as that.
Listen, there's some miscues that we've had because he takes his time with some things or whatever it may be. So there is still some getting used to on little things, the way that he does little things differently. But overall, good receivers know how to get open and in the spot that they are supposed to be on time and in rhythm with the play and that helps the quarterback out.
Q. You have a 99 point whatever chance to make the playoffs now.
JOE FLACCO: That's just scary. I don't want to think about that. Like I said, keep our eye on the prize.
Q. Let me rephrase. You took a big step towards --
JOE FLACCO: Yeah, man, every week, I come up here and like I get on the phone afterwards with my family everything and, and it's like, man, that was a big win. Man, that was a big win. Every week seems to be like that. Man, we need this win. We are playing well and we are getting them.
That's December football. That's what happens at this time of the year, December, January, February. They are all must-wins and they all have a ton of importance.
But our guys have done a great job so far in the last few weeks of keeping that mindset and we've just got to keep doing it.
Q. Is your family in Cleveland for Christmas or are you working tomorrow?
JOE FLACCO: We've working. We're working, and I'll be coming on Christmas.
Q. Are you still in the hotel?
JOE FLACCO: I got a little apartment.
Q. Ever lose a kicker?
JOE FLACCO: Don't think so. I think that's a first which was interesting. I'm sure the game might have been a little bit different. Today it worked to our advantage I think because we ended up scoring a couple times on long drives.
Q. How is it going from being Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens quarterback to now the Joe Flacco Cleveland Browns potential quarterback savior, at least for this season?
JOE FLACCO: You know, people obviously bring it up and things like that, and I think there obviously is some -- you have to wrap your mind around it a little bit but ultimately for players, I think I've said this before. You get into a locker room and teams change, anyway. And the locker rooms are always pretty similar and you just start hanging out with the guys and learning football and practicing and doing all those things together.
You know, when you're in the moment, that's the things you think about. Like being on the sideline, being out in the huddle, being in practice, all those things are very similar. Just because your uniform changes, doesn't even those things change.
Q. That said you guys are alive in the AFC North race to host a playoff game. Ravens are going to have to lose some games for that to happen. Are you able to root against Baltimore given the current situation?
JOE FLACCO: You know what, I try not to get my mind into all the other games, especially when I'm playing and we're playing well. We have to worry about ourselves. You know what, I will say now that I am playing, and on a team, it is easier to probably throw a couple games on and watch them. It's a little bit easier than it is when you're sitting at home and you're probably somewhat bitter that you're not out there.
But as far as rooting for people and things like that, it's so much wasted mental energy wrapping your head around all that stuff. Like turning into a fan and sitting on the couch and rooting for a certain outcome, it drains you. So I really would not like to get involved in that.
Q. Could you have imagined when you were sitting on the couch, wishing for an opportunity, that it was going to be this much fun, this good, this cool?
JOE FLACCO: I think you forget how much fun it all is. There is a piece of you that forgets it, and to be reminded of it has been special. Thanks, guys.
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