How Joe Flacco’s wife helped him after surprise Bengals trade

Joe Flacco’s wife, Dana Flacco, was clutch after Cleveland traded the veteran quarterback to the Cincinnati Bengals on Tuesday.

During a press conference on Friday, Flacco explained that he was impressed by his wife’s play-calling rhythm when she quizzed him on Cincinnati’s playbook ahead of a Week 6 clash with the Packers.

“I’ve never had my wife read stuff out to me. But the other night, sitting in the hotel, I did have her read some of the base game plan to me, and have me repeat it back to her. She didn’t do bad,” Flacco, 40, said, smirking.

“Because there is a rhythm — not only to saying the play in the huddle, but there is a rhythm to giving someone the play… there is a rhythm for how you say things. And it’s not like she knows the difference between a formation, a shift, a motion, and where the actual play starts starts. So I didn’t think she’d have a good enough rhythm, but it worked out.”

Flacco and his wife, who met during high school in New Jersey, married in 2011, according to People.

They went on to have five children: sons Stephen, Daniel, Francis and Thomas, and daughter, Evelyn.

The Bengals have lost three in a row since losing Joe Burrow to a turf toe injury in Cincinnati’s 31-27 win over the Jaguars on Sept. 14.

Jake Browning, who took over for Burrow in the second half, completed 21 of 32 attempts for 241 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Burrow had a successful toe surgery on his left foot, and is expected to miss a minimum of three months, according to ESPN.

After Browning struggled through three starts, the Bengals targeted Flacco to help save their season.

But not after they canvassed the league, calling “every team that had three quarterbacks or a viable practice squad option,” according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The Bengals reportedly inquired about Davis Mills, Sam Howell and Derek Carr, who announced his retirement in May, but is still under contract with the Saints.

Despite having four days to prepare, Flacco has a reputation for coming in mid-season and quickly jelling with teams.

“I have spoken to Joe and of course, he can definitely help,” Flacco said on Friday. “Just little things that he’s kind of done, or how he’s seen this play or that play, it can kind of help speed up your process a little bit and help you relate it to something that you’ve done in the past.”

The former Super Bowl MVP might have a slight advantage as he helped the Browns beat the Packers, 13-10, in Week 3.