ClutchPoints
The Cleveland Browns find themselves staring at an early-season identity crisis. After two straight losses to open the 2025 campaign, the team is searching for answers at quarterback. Joe Flacco, the veteran entrusted with leading the offense, has struggled mightily through the first two weeks. His Week 2 performance against the Baltimore Ravens not only magnified his limitations. It also raised a pressing question: is it time to hand the keys to rookie Dillon Gabriel? The Browns can’t afford to wait long to decide, not in a stacked AFC North where every week counts.
It may sound strange to say a defense looked good in a game where it surrendered 41 points. However, the Browns’ unit showed resilience for the second week in a row. In their 41-17 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, two pivotal moments tilted the score in ways that weren’t on the defense. A blocked punt in the first half gave Baltimore the ball deep in Cleveland territory. Later, Flacco’s fumble was returned for a touchdown. Beyond those breakdowns, Myles Garrett notched another sack and a half, while Mason Graham and Carson Schwesinger delivered encouraging snaps that showed promise for the future.
The real problems came on offense. Flacco completed 25 of 45 passes for 199 yards. He threw one touchdown and one interception, while also losing a costly fumble. He took two sacks and never found a rhythm. This left the Browns struggling to sustain drives. Lamar Jackson, by contrast, was efficient and turnover-free. He kept the Ravens in control throughout. Flacco was pulled late in the game, and Dillon Gabriel stepped in to deliver a touchdown pass to Dylan Sampson on the final drive. That gave Cleveland at least a brief spark. Even so, head coach Kevin Stefanski reiterated that Flacco will remain the starter for Week 3 against the Packers. At 0-2, though, the frustration in Cleveland is beginning to boil.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss why it’s not too early for the Cleveland Browns to bench Joe Flacco for Dillon Gabriel.
Gabriel represents the future of the Browns’ quarterback room. His brief cameo in Week 2 hinted at a more dynamic alternative. Gabriel has the tools that modern offenses crave, which are arm strength, quick decision-making, and mobility. Unlike Flacco, Gabriel can extend plays with his legs and force defenses to account for his athleticism. That dual-threat capability alone can tilt the field. That’s particularly true for a Browns team that has struggled to generate explosive plays.
Sure, Gabriel lacks Flacco’s experience. However, he brings a sense of urgency and upside that Cleveland desperately needs. With the offense sputtering, sticking with Flacco risks turning early-season struggles into a full-on spiral. Gabriel may be unproven, but his skill set is tailor-made to ignite the Browns’ stagnant attack.
Objectively speaking, the Browns’ offense under Flacco has looked painfully predictable. Defenses have sat comfortably...
