Sometimes, it only takes a raised eyebrow to light the fuse.
Earlier in the week, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin could not resist a public swipe at Cleveland’s decision to send veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to Cincinnati.
“It does not make sense to me,” he said, questioning why the Browns would trade a Week 1 starter to a divisional rival.
The implication was clear: The Bengals just got better and now that guy is gonna face us.
Well, Mike, you were right.
The battle of the geriatrics
In a Prime Time Thursday night white-out game at Paycor Stadium — one I was lucky enough to witness in person with 20 or so fellow members of Bengals UK — Flacco delivered a performance that felt part revival, part revenge tour.
In just his second game for the team, he threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, coolly directing a last-minute drive to set up Evan McPherson’s 36‑yard game‑winning field goal.
Flacco directed the Bengals to a season high in points and offensive yards, and seven of the last eight possessions ended with an addition to the scoreboard.
He even ran for 12 yards on one play, which was something I did not have on my bingo card!
The Bengals edged the Steelers 33‑31 in a game that swung wildly, with both teams taking then relinquishing double-digit leads. It ultimately came down to which of Flacco or Aaron Rodgers, the oldest quarterbacks in the league at 40 and 41 respectively, rose to the challenge.
In the end, it was vintage Flacco who won out. Over his first two games in stripes, he has thrown for 560 yards, five touchdowns and zero picks. That may not be franchise level but it is certainly more than the team got with Jake Browning.
And to be honest, more than we could have ever dreamt of.
A prophecy fulfilled
Tomlin’s concern proved prophetic. Flacco looked like the steadiest player on the field, even as Rodgers kept pace with a four-touchdown night of his own — all to tight ends. Rodgers uncorked a late 68‑yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth with 2:15 remaining to give Pittsburgh a 31‑30 lead.
But it was Flacco who had the final word
With the game — and arguably the Bengals’ season — on the line, Flacco calmly found Ja’Marr Chase for gains of 15 and 18 yards, then dropped a 28‑yard strike to Tee Higgins.
The receiver wisely slid at the 7‑yard line instead of going in for the score. That allowed Cincinnati to bleed the clock and force the Steelers to burn their final timeouts, teeing up McPherson’s winning kick with just seven seconds left.
Even then, there was room for drama. Rodgers — who also showed that age has not dulled his deep ball — launched a 69‑yard Hail Mary, the longest throw in the NFL this season. But the Bengals defense batted it down.
We could all finally breathe.
Chase is on the case
Flacco may have been the steady hand, but it was the two Chases who ignited the home crowd.
Ja’Marr Chase broke two franchise records with 16 receptions from 23 targets, racking up 161 yards and a touchdown while torching corners all over the field. His ability to turn routine slants into chaos after the catch was a constant thorn in Pittsburgh’s side.
Meanwhile, running back Chase Brown exploded for 108 rushing yards on just 12 carries — including back-to-back bursts of 27 and 37 yards that flipped the field.
It was a transformative night for a Bengals run game that has one of the league’s worst.
Defensive plays at both ends
Defensively, it was a mixed bag for Cincinnati. They came up with two crucial takeaways — Jordan Battle’s interception in the second quarter and DJ Turner II’s muscular theft from DK Metcalf that stole the momentum as well as the ball in the third.
But the pass rush was non-existent. With Trey Hendrickson sidelined and the returning Shemar Stewart making no impact, Rodgers had a staggering amount of time to operate. On two separate plays, he had over eight seconds in the pocket to find his man downfield.
Still, D.K. Metcalf was kept unusually quiet and despite the lack of pressure, the defense did just enough to resist the old foe.
What was more surprising was how well the Bengals’ O-line held up. Pittsburgh’s front seven, widely regarded as one of the league’s most fearsome, barely laid a glove on Flacco. The much-anticipated mismatch up front simply never materialised.
From afterthought to X‑factor
Less than two weeks ago, Joe Flacco was sitting on the bench in Cleveland. Now, he has ended a four-game skid, lifted Cincinnati to 2‑0 in the division and helped pull the team within a game of the AFC North leaders.
With two more home games to come and a bye after that, this team finally has some momentum — and a quarterback who seems, improbably, to be getting better with age. He beat Rodgers for the first time in his career and he is giving Old Father Time a run for his money too.
As for me, I had such a blast in the Queen City, with the white‑out crowd chanting, “Thank you Cleveland” by the finish. The night ended not just with the inevitable celebrations but with genuine belief for the weeks ahead.
And as for Mike Tomlin, give him some credit. It turns out he knew what was coming all along.
