Bengals Recap: Joe Flacco Turns Back Time—and the Bengals Snap the Curse
By Trinity Barnette
Final Score: Bengals 33, Steelers 31
The Bengals did it—finally. Cincinnati came into Thursday night desperate for a win, and somehow, some way, Joe Flacco turned back the clock and delivered vintage chaos.
Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, leading his new team to a nail-biting 33–31 win over Pittsburgh and snapping the Bengals’ four-game losing streak. The 40-year-old quarterback—yes, forty—outdueled fellow fossil Aaron Rodgers, 41, in what might go down as the NFL’s first-ever retirement home showdown.
And let’s be honest—Flacco is aging like fine wine. Cleveland traded him away for scraps, and he came to Cincinnati just to make them regret it. Bengals fans let them hear it too, chanting “Thank you, Cleveland!” as Flacco smiled through the Prime Video postgame interview like the king of petty he is.
How It Happened
Pittsburgh opened hot, going up 10–0 early, but once Cincinnati’s offense found rhythm, the tide turned fast. Flacco hit Ja’Marr Chase in the corner of the end zone for an 8-yard score—the Bengals’ first first-half touchdown in five games.
From there, the offense caught fire. Cincinnati scored on seven of its last eight possessions, including the game-winning drive that ended with Evan McPherson’s 36-yard dagger with seven seconds left on the clock. Ice in his veins—again.
Flacco looked calm, precise, and confident, completing 31 of 47 passes while hitting Chase, Tee Higgins, and Noah Fant with surgical accuracy. Chase was unstoppable—16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown—breaking a franchise record and joining elite company as just the fourth receiver in NFL history with multiple 14+ catch games in a single season.
Higgins added 96 yards and a score, while Chase Brown gashed Pittsburgh’s defense for 108 rushing yards on 11 carries. For once, this offense felt balanced, smart, and unpredictable—and it worked.
The defense had its moments too. Jordan Battle’s interception flipped the energy in the second quarter, and DJ Turner’s late pick set up a crucial field goal. Rodgers, to his credit, had flashes of brilliance—including a 68-yard strike to Pat Freiermuth that briefly gave Pittsburgh a 31–30 lead—but Flacco’s poise erased it all in the end.
Evan McPherson remains him: 4-for-4 on field goals, 100% clutch, 100% reliable.
Why It Mattered
We needed this win—badly. This wasn’t just about pride, it was about survival. We beat a divisional rival and took down the AFC North’s leading team in our own house. The Steelers came in confident, but Cincinnati punched back and refused to fold.
It’s a huge statement for a team that’s been written off for weeks. And with the Jets up next, it’s not crazy to say this could be the start of a winning streak. The energy is back. The swagger is back. And this version of the Bengals? Yeah—they’re dangerous again.
Raw Reflection:
This was more than a win—it was a reset. After weeks of doubt, injuries, and inconsistency, Cincinnati finally reminded the league who they are.
Joe Flacco might be 40, but he’s aging beautifully and leading like it’s 2012. The locker room believes in him, the fans are behind him, and for the first time in a long time, the Bengals look like a threat again.
The Bengals are now 3–4, and for the rest of the AFC North—good luck.
