Things really went south for the Cleveland Browns against the Detroit Lions in Week 4. The Browns’ 34-10 beatdown by the Lions has raised eyebrows over their quarterback, Joe Flacco. He looked rough, probably one of his worst outings of the season. Flacco finished with 16 of 34, covering 184 yards, no touchdowns, and two ugly interceptions. One of them was a total gift. A soft floater that landed right in the lap of a Lions’ safety, Kerby Joseph. Things got so bad that HC Kevin Stefanski finally pulled Flacco in the fourth quarter and gave rookie Dillon Gabriel a shot.

Gabriel only threw one pass, and it fell incomplete. He was able to complete just 3 snaps. His limited appearance on the field has now led to speculations about his week 5 contribution. Stefanski might give him another shot against the Vikings next week, as both his season appearances came in the final minutes of the game.

If he does get another chance, the third-round pick is expected to deliver more than just throwing the ball. “You saw Jaxson Dart against the Chargers… You saw the energy in the stadium and on the sidelines. When (Browns) make a change that’s what needs to happen. It’s gotta electrify the unit offensively,” former Browns OL John Greco said. Highlighting Dart’s impact outside the gridiron, this adds additional responsibility to Gabriel.

The Giants camp has admitted that Dart’s physical style fires them up. “I think there’s nothing about him that is typical to a rookie,” TE Theo Johnson said after catching three passes for 17 yards and a touchdown from Dart. “His poise, the way he can rally the troops. Everyone just rallied behind him.”

They want him to remember that sliding now and then can be the smart move. His numbers weren’t flashy, 13 of 20 for 111 yards, but he made it up with his legs, rushing 10 times for 54 yards and keeping the offense alive. And it seems likely he’ll get the chances to make his impact, based on his HC’s recent comments.

Kevin Stefanski has changed his tune, and this could be good news for Gabriel

For weeks now, the Cleveland HC has been asked the same questions multiple times about who will be his starting quarterback after back-to-back disappointments from Flacco. Each time he stood firmly behind Flacco and went with him in all 4 games this season. But after Sunday, Stefanski wasn’t ready to commit to anything when asked a similar question.

“Browns coach Kevin Stefanski declined to commit to Joe Flacco for Sunday’s game against the Vikings in London, and a switch to rookie Dillon Gabriel appears likely. He would only say several times that that’s not his focus right now, and that it’s not about one person. Pressed on the matter several times, he wouldn’t say he’s moving forward with Flacco, like he has in previous weeks,” Browns insider Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com said on 92.3 The Fan podcast.

Flacco started strong on Sunday. He led the team with 88 yards on the first drive. But after that? Just 161 yards. Apart from Flacco’s two interceptions, he also lost a fumble. The offense also dropped multiple passes, and the O-line gave up three sacks. After this, Gabriel had very little scope to perform when he was assigned to mop-up duty late in the game.

It feels like it is high time now for the Browns fans. The Browns now pack up and head overseas for a matchup with the Vikings in London. They have already been in Europe for a week after losing to the Steelers in Dublin. To make it even tougher, the Vikings’ defense is run by Brian Flores, who is infamous for exploiting the blitz from every angle. All these aspects do not project a soft landing spot for a rookie QB making his debut as a starter.