Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin took a rare shot at another general manager this week. He wondered aloud why Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry would trade Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, a division rival, and help them out.
Now we know why Tomlin was so angry.
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Flacco, who only nine days earlier was acquired by the Bengals, had a throwback game against another quarterback in his 40s, Aaron Rodgers. Flacco was fantastic as the Bengals beat the Steelers 33-31, snapping a four-game losing streak. He led a drive in the final two minutes, after the Steelers took a late lead, including a deep pass to Tee Higgins inside the 10-yard line to set up Evan McPherson’s game-winning field goal with seven seconds left. Flacco threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns. Flacco has had a remarkable career that includes a Super Bowl MVP. Thursday’s performance will have to take a special place in his career.
Rodgers played well, too. He threw four touchdowns, including a 68-yard touchdown with just over two minutes left to give his team the lead. But it wasn’t enough because Flacco was just a bit better. For the Steelers, it was a rough loss after they came into the game 4-1, easily in first place of the AFC North. Thursday night was a game they were expected to win, but they didn’t have an answer for a suddenly resurgent offense with a quarterback who less than two weeks ago was on a different team.
The Steelers would have been quite happy if Flacco would have stayed on the Browns. Tomlin might be even angrier with the Browns after Thursday night. And he has to deal with Flacco and the Bengals again in Week 11.
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Both QBs make plays
For all of the talk of the quarterbacks’ ages, the first touchdown was on a long scramble to extend the play. Rodgers rolled to his left, then his right, and after buying about six seconds while he directed traffic, he hit Jonnu Smith in the end zone.
It was the type of play Rodgers routinely made in his prime, and obviously is still capable of in his 40s.
But for most of the first half, it was the other senior quarterback who was impressing everyone.
Flacco quickly figured out the secret to running the Bengals’ offense: Find Ja’Marr Chase and throw it to him, and if he’s not open, throw it to Tee Higgins. Chase caught an 8-yard touchdown to get the Bengals on the board after they fell behind 10-0, then Higgins gave them the lead won a 29-yard touchdown. Chase had 11 targets in the first half. He went over 100 yards in the third quarter and ended up with a team-record 16 receptions for 161 yards. Flacco has been around a while and he’s smart enough to feed the best receiver in the NFL.
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The entire Bengals offense looked different with Flacco. Running back Chase Brown, dormant all season, came to life with more than 100 yards rushing. Chase and Higgins didn’t look like they were being wasted anymore. Even the offensive line had its best game.
Flacco was bad enough with the Colts last season and the Browns this season that he got benched in both spots, but on Thursday night he was dealing.
Bengals, Steelers offenses trade plays
The Steelers made some mistakes. Rodgers threw two interceptions in the first half, including a great one from Bengals cornerback D.J. Turner II in which he ripped the ball away from D.K. Metcalf when it looked like Metcalf had a catch. But still, the Steelers trailed just 20-17 when Pat Freiermuth caught Rodgers’ second touchdown of the night.
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Flacco answered right away. He led an eight-play, 67-yard drive that resulted in a 5-yard touchdown to tight end Noah Fant to start the fourth quarter. Rodgers came back with is third touchdown pass to a third tight end, hitting Darnell Washington for a score. But the Steelers continued to be a step behind the Bengals all night.
Finally, with 2:46 left Rodgers got the ball with a shot to give his team the lead. Rodgers seemed to throw for a first down, but a holding penalty erased that play and marched the Steelers back 10 yards. But on second-and-20, Rodgers found Freiermuth running open downfield and hit him for a 68-yard touchdown and a sudden Steelers lead.
But there was plenty of time for Flacco, and the way he had played all of Thursday night, it seemed like a good chance he’d come through. Flacco already had the Bengals on the edge of field-goal range when he found Higgins down the sideline for 28 yards to the 7-yard line. Higgins slid down instead of trying to score, which forced the Steelers to use their remaining timeouts and ran out most of the rest of the clock.
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The Bengals are 3-4 and all of a sudden more competitive than they were after Joe Burrow’s injury. They ambushed the Steelers on Thursday night. Flacco is still capable of some special moments, it turns out.
Here’s how Thursday’s action played out:
Live51 updatesThu, October 16, 2025 at 10:22 PM EDT
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Jack Baer
Let’s be clear, though, that Hail Mary was closer than anyone in Cincinnati wanted. Rodgers threw that ball almost 70 yards.
Jack Baer
An Aaron Rodgers Hail Mary gets batted down in the end zone and that will do it for a wild one in Cincinnati. Joe Flacco really walked in and posted 342 passing yards and three touchdowns against a division leader.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Evan McPherson makes the 36-yard field goal, but there are still seven seconds on the clock for a Pittsburgh prayer.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Joe Flacco gets it to Tee Higgins inside the 10 and the veteran receiver slides rather than go for a touchdown. A brilliant play all around gives the Bengals a chip shot field goal for the win and the ability to burn clock without the Steelers stopping them.
Jack Baer
A pair of first-down passes to Ja’marr Chase puts the Bengals in field-goal range with less than two minutes, so Pittsburgh has to start calling timeouts.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
The Steelers tight end entered this game with zero touchdowns and now has two, this time on a 68-yard catch-and-run to take the lead. That quick drive leaves Joe Flacco and the Bengals 2:21 to respond, though.
Jack Baer
Despite Flacco’s scramble, the Bengals get stopped deep in their own territory and have to punt. The Steelers take over with good field position at their own 44 and 2:46 left in the game.,
Jack Baer
The 40-year-old quarterback rumbles for a 12-yard gain. That kind of night for the Bengals.
Thu, October 16, 2025 at 11:05 PM EDT
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Aaron Rodgers couldn’t convert on a third-and-4 pass as the Bengals forced a three-and-out, despite decent field position at the start of the drive. Yikes.
Mike Tomlin is going to hear about it for not going for it on fourth down.
Joe Flacco could put this Icy Hot Bowl on ice in this forthcoming drive.
Thu, October 16, 2025 at 10:59 PM EDT
Yahoo Sports
We’re setting up for a nice finish in Cincinnati.
Evan McPherson kicked a 45-yard field goal to give the Bengals a 30-24 lead.
Aaron Rodgers will get the ball back, late in the fourth quarter with Pittsburgh in need of a score.
Thu, October 16, 2025 at 10:56 PM EDT
Yahoo Sports
Cincinnati’s Chase Brown has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time this season.
Uh, oh, Steelers.
Jack Baer
The Bengals just keep moving the ball, and are knocking on the red zone again.
Jack Baer
The Steelers’ drive pays off with a two-yard pass to Darnell Washington. Aaron Rodgers is 21-of-29 with 176 passing yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Jack Baer
Jack Baer
The Steelers’ tight ends open up a huge hole for Jaylen Warren on an outside run and it’s a quick 36 yards for the Steelers, who are in Bengals territory after one offensive play. Then they reach the red zone on a 19-yard pass to Pat Freiermuth.
Jack Baer