Watch: Texans pull away as Browns' Flacco throws back-to-back pick-sixes

Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) throws the ball during the first quarter in a AFC wild-card game at NRG Stadium. Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Texans pull away as Browns QB Joe Flacco throws back-to-back pick-sixes

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 1/13/24

As good as Joe Flacco has played for the Cleveland Browns, there has been one big negative to his play. Turnovers.

That flaw showed itself in a big way on Saturday when he threw back-to-back pick-sixes against the Houston Texans.

Have a look at the first one, which was an 82-yard return for Texans cornerback Steven Nelson.

It was a terrible decision from Flacco right from the start.

STEVEN NELSON 82-YARD PICK-6 ‼️

The @HoustonTexans are ROLLING.

: #CLEvsHOU on NBC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jM781VisSx pic.twitter.com/ATLFAhrPJI
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2024

Flacco was definitely under pressure, and he may have been trying to just throw that ball away, but sometimes it is better to just take the sack and not risk something like that happen.

On the Browns' very next offensive series, they were facing a fourth-and-two inside their own 35-yard line and decided to go for it due to the fact they were trailing by 17 points.

It produced another pick-six, this time for Christian Harris.

ANOTHER @HoustonTexans pick-6 ️️️

: #CLEvsHOU on NBC
: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/jM781VisSx pic.twitter.com/0cLwVnM7hV
— NFL (@NFL) January 13, 2024

That gave the Texans a 38-14 lead late in the third quarter.

Despite leading the Browns to a 4-1 record in his five starts, Flacco threw at least one interception in each of his five regular seasons and ended the regular season with eight of them in total.

That is a lot, and it helped add to Cleveland's league-leading turnover total. Eventually those turnovers are going to bite you, and these were big ones for both the Browns and Texans in the biggest game of their seasons.

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