Russell Wilson now sits on the sideline of his New York Giants career. He is facing dwindling trade interest as the deadline approaches, and has undergone strong criticism over performance. Meanwhile, someone is reinventing their style of play at 40. Joe Flacco stepped into a new QB role with the Cincinnati Bengals. Inspired by his comeback, Wilson reacted to Flacco’s statement.

“Challenges are opportunities to overcome. Adversity is temporary. #KeepGoing,” Wilson wrote on his Instagram story. He had reposted a video of Flacco from one of his press conferences. In the Bengals-Steelers matchup, Joe proved he still has a lot to offer. But can the same be said for Wilson?

While the Giants have propelled forward with rookie Jaxson Dart, Wilson is losing relevance. His stats in 5 games this season are 66 completions of 112 attempts, averaging 58.9%. He was sacked 8 times and secured only 786 yards with 3 touchdowns, dropping his QBR to 32.1, opening doors for critics to take a dig. After receiving a booed reception from fans during the 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, his story changed from a Super Bowl star to a benched veteran. The stories mirror each other, but there have been significant differences.

 Flacco’s performance was majorly impacted by the Cleveland Brown’s defense, which placed him under pressure and cost him consistency. He threw six interceptions and just two touchdowns while the offense stagnated. After a 1–3 start, Cleveland benched him in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel, highlighting a shift to younger quarterbacks. But that cannot be said about Wilson.

Factors of declining mobility and decision-making were crucial. Holding the ball for long and taking sacks, especially the 40-37 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, cost the Giants a win. Trade options have also not been as swift as Flacco, and the room for opportunity is closing. Wilson’s challenges are stacking up fast, but the No.3 is optimistic about enduring and overcoming, especially after listening to Flacco.

Flacco’s no-hesitation approach to setbacks

Critics tagged Flacco as “washed” after losing to the Green Bay Packers. After his trade to the Cincinnati Bengals, Flacco was surrounded by a completely new roster. But that didn’t dampen his spirits. When asked about the lesson he wants to teach his kids, his reply was simple yet bold.

“One of the biggest things is that hopefully they’ll be willing to take on challenges. Because I think it would be easy to maybe say, ‘Nah, I don’t want to do that.’ But like, you want me to play this week? I don’t know. That’s one thing to take on some challenges, and you can’t worry about the outcome. I see myself as a competitor and a football player. That’s what I do. No hesitation,” Flacco stated.

The 40-year-old threw for 342 yards and scored three touchdowns against the Steelers. It was the crux of the game-winning drive, and posted a 108.6 passer rating in a 33-31 win over Pittsburgh.

Flacco’s performance reflects his perseverance and dedication, proving that hard work eventually leads to success. Hopefully, this also transpires in Wilson and that he marks his place in the league when an opportunity is presented.