CLEVELAND (AP) — Joe Flacco’s short stint with the Browns has been stunning, storybook, almost unbelievable.

Like everyone else, the New York Jets have watched him from afar — and maybe wondered what might have been.

On Thursday night, Flacco, who in just over a month has revived his career while rescuing Cleveland’s injury-filled season, can lead the Browns back into the playoffs for only the second time since 2002 with a win over the Jets.

The same Jets who chose not to re-sign the 38-year-old quarterback during the offseason or even after Aaron Rodgers’ Achilles tendon injury when he fell to the MetLife Stadium turf four plays into his first game with New York.

Instead, the Jets (6-9) have cycled through QBs — Trevor Siemian will start against the Browns — in a season that crashed weeks ago.

Jets coach Robert Saleh swears the team doesn’t rue passing on Flacco.

“Never regret,” Saleh said. “You always go into things with what you hope being a sound decision. Every decision we make comes with deep thought and logic. But no, there’s no regret there.”

Still, Saleh surely has to think about what Flacco, who went 1-8 as a starter from 2020-22 with New York, would be doing for the Jets now.

“No, I don’t think I ever let myself go there,” Saleh said. “But I am pumped to watch him play. It’s fun for any guy that you’ve gotten an opportunity to coach and be around to have success and he’s definitely having it right now.”

The Browns (10-5) probably wouldn’t be in this position without Flacco.

He has passed for 1,307 yards and 10 touchdowns while going 3-1 in four starts. It’s been something of a blur for the 15-year veteran, who finally has moved into an apartment after spending his first few weeks in town holed up in a hotel.

Once a villain while playing for rival Baltimore, Flacco has become a Cleveland cult hero.

Browns fans quickly have adopted him as their own.

“This city’s been unbelievable,” he said. “I can’t say enough about how welcoming everybody has been. It’s definitely been a little bit surreal in terms of how people have treated me around here. That stuff always feels good, so hopefully we can keep it going for them.”

Things could have been so different for Flacco if the Jets had called. But they didn’t, and he holds no bitterness.

“I enjoyed my time while I was there, and it is what it is,” he said. “I’m happy to be where I am, that’s for sure. Listen, there’s 32 teams in the NFL. They’re just another one of those teams. I got a lot of guys over there I really respect and had an awesome few years with in that locker room. So a lot of respect for those guys.”

The feeling is mutual.

“I love him,” Saleh said of Flacco. “I love the way he prepares, really pumped for him and the success he’s having. But it’s just the decision we made in terms of the quarterback room and the way we developed it over the course of OTAs and training camp and it was just the decision that we made.”

Flacco had his finest moment with the Jets in Cleveland.

In Week 2 last season, Flacco threw two of his four TD passes in the final 1:22 as New York, trailing by 13 points, pulled off a stunning 31-30 win over the Browns.