Cleveland Browns receiver Amari Cooper received some well-deserved accolades for his career-best performance in the Browns’ 36-22 Week 16 victory over the Houston Texans.
On Wednesday, Amari Cooper was named the AFC’s Offensive Player of the Week, but he received another equally special honor that he wanted to share with his quarterback, Joe Flacco.
On the Nickelodeon show “NFL Slimetime,” Cooper was named the Nickelodeon Valuable Player (NVP) of the week over Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen and Pittsburgh Steelers receiver George Pickens. As part of his prize, Cooper gets jars of slime to share with someone special.
So, Cooper decided to pour out his thanks to Flacco.
Related: Amari Cooper cannot be stopped on record day for Cleveland Browns in Week 16 victory
Joe Flacco-Amari Cooper connection producing big numbers
Amari Cooper, 29, caught 11 passes for a career-high 265 yards and two touchdowns, including a season-long 75-yarder. The 265 yards were a franchise record and the most by an NFL receiver this season. He also became the fourth player in NFL history to have three career games with at least 200 yards receiving and two TDs.
Flacco deserves much of the credit for not only Cooper’s performance but for carrying the Browns since the beginning of December. As Cleveland’s fourth starting quarterback this season, Flacco has led the Browns to three straight victories, throwing for more than 300 yards in each one.
Amari Cooper, who has a career-best 1,250 receiving yards and is fourth in the NFL at 17.4 yards per catch, has benefitted greatly from Flacco’s presence. Over the past three games, the two have connected 22 times for 451 yards and three scores.
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Amari Cooper questionable for Thursday’s game
The Browns, currently the No. 5 seed in the AFC, can secure a playoff berth Thursday night when they host Flacco’s former team, the New York Jets.
It would be the Browns’ first playoff berth since 2020, their second under head coach Kevin Stefanski, and the franchise’s second playoff appearance since 2002.
Coming off his career game, Cooper might not even be available Thursday night for a repeat performance. He is listed as questionable with a heel injury.
If Cooper were unable to play, that would be a significant loss going against a Jets defense ranked second against the pass.