After facing the Cleveland Browns just three weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers weren't expecting to see veteran QB Joe Flacco for a while. Now, following Joe Burrow's injury and Jake Browning's underwhelming performances, Flacco will take the field against the Packers as the starting quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals.
News of a rematch with Flacco sparked a reaction from Green Bay safety Evan Williams, who explained what defensive players notice in a quarterback.
"You pick up the little things that make a quarterback a quarterback," Williams said. "Is he a guy that looks you off in the middle of the field? Is he a guy that is mobile enough? Obviously Flacco's not, in this case, but yeah ... those things differ from quarterback to quarterback, so you try to take as much of those unique details you can and transfer that into this game."
Packers safety Evan Williams calls out Joe Flacco's lack of mobility ahead of Week 6
As Williams alluded, Flacco is certainly not known for his mobility. In fact, he's only run for over 100 yards in a season twice (2008 and 2013). Since leaving Baltimore in 2019, Flacco hasn't scored a single rushing touchdown or averaged more than two rushing attempts per game. The absence of a rushing game gives defenders like Williams one less thing to worry about.
The second-year safety went on to elaborate, noting that the scheme and weapons that Flacco will be using are "completely new" this week. But given the quick turnaround for the 40-year-old quarterback, Williams expects a "pretty rudimentary" approach in the passing scheme.
Drafted just outside the top 100 in 2024, Williams has quickly risen in the ranks within the Packers' defense and is scheduled to make his 10th start this Sunday. Hopefully, his presence limits Flacco's passing game once again, but receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins will be a significant upgrade over the Cleveland receiving corps the Packers faced just three weeks ago.
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The announcement of Flacco's quick promotion to starter creates an interesting situation for Green Bay. The Packers have changed quite a bit since their last matchup with the Bengals, which took place in 2021 and ended with a Packers overtime victory.
There isn't a single offensive playmaker from that game who still wears the green and gold, and only one member of the defense remains: Rashan Gary.
While this version of the Green Bay defense hasn't faced the Bengals yet, they are definitely familiar with Flacco's game. The Week 3 loss to the Browns was a shock, but the defense played extremely well, not allowing a single point until the final four minutes.
Flacco had been held to just 131 yards until that point, and he only threw for an additional 11 yards during the catastrophic Cleveland comeback.