Cleveland Browns' Joe Flacco warms up before an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

CINCINNATI — Coach Zac Taylor immediately welcomed Joe Flacco when he connected with him over the phone after the Cincinnati Bengals acquired the veteran quarterback from the Cleveland Browns on Tuesday.

The second thing was to tell Flacco that he’d be starting on Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

“I’ve only met him once before he came here, but I know his game,” Taylor said Wednesday after announcing Flacco would start. “Played against him I don’t know many times, a lot of times. Very comfortable with his style, concepts he’s been good at, things that fit us that we do. The terminology there is a lot of carryover, more so than what I would have anticipated, so feel like we can get him up to speed quickly.”

Taylor benched Jake Browning after three starts that resulted in blowout losses. In those three games, Browning completed 64.1% of his passes and threw five interceptions.

With the Bengals holding a 2-3 record in a wide-open AFC North, the front office explored the trade market for a new starting quarterback and landed on the 40-year-old Flacco.

“He’s a great passer,” Taylor said. “We’ve got to expand all areas of our offense to be better.”

AP likes Eagles

The Eagles, a 7.5-point favorite, lost for only the second time in 22 games but the feeling around Philadelphia surrounding the reigning Super Bowl champions is quite negative because the offense has been stagnant.

Five turnovers, including three by Jaxson Dart, cost the Giants (1-4) in New Orleans. Jalen Hurts is only 6-6 straight up against NFC East opponents on the road but the Eagles (4-1) are 11-0 against the Giants in prime-time games since 2009, including 8-2 against the spread. AP picks Eagles: 23-18