Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco has a long history with the Pittsburgh Steelers, featuring plenty of back-and-forth moments.

The 2025 season might have been the most unique one for the veteran quarterback and his matchups with the Black and Gold. Of course, there was the Mike Tomlin comment about Cleveland Browns GM Andrew Berry being smarter than him after trading Flacco within the AFC North to the Bengals. It helped Cincinnati after losing Joe Burrow for an extended stretch.

And now, thanks to Netflix’s Quarterback show that released Tuesday, we have a behind-the-scenes look at Flacco against the Steelers after a hit from outside linebacker T.J. Watt in the Week 11 matchup at Acrisure Stadium.

Here’s the hit.

Watt was flagged on the play, driving Flacco into the turf after the quarterback threw a pass on 3rd-and-8 that fell incompetent early in the second quarter.

Flacco came into the game dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered two weeks prior. In the Netflix show, Flacco was receiving treatment on his shoulder throughout the week leading up to the game. Prior to the matchup against the Steelers in Week 11, Flacco had practiced just one day due to the shoulder injury.

After Watt drove him into the turf, Netflix captured Flacco stating that Watt knew what he was doing.

Take a look.

“Man, he fucked me up. He knew what he was doing, too,” Flacco said of the hit on the sideline. “Oh, I think so, but he fucked me up. It was on my left side, but man, the way he bent me up…this area right here, it just got extra fucked — my right pec.”

It felt like a clean play at the time from Watt. He finished the play and likely didn’t realize the veteran quarterback got rid of the football, considering Flacco’s throwing arm was above Watt’s head at the time of impact. But Watt landed on Flacco, leading to the flag.

It left Flacco in severe discomfort. After that play, the Steelers went on to pick off Flacco as former safety Kyle Dugger returned it 73 yards for a score. It led the Steelers to a 34-12 blowout, avenging a previous 33-31 loss to the Bengals on Thursday Night Football earlier in the season.

“He knew what he was doing. He was like, ‘I’ve got a chance to hit him here. I’m gonna take full advantage,” Flacco said of the play. It didn’t feel good. But that’s football. That’s the Steelers defense.”

UPDATE, 1:35 pm:

Shortly after the backlash from Flacco occurred Tuesday morning, the veteran quarterback appeared on Glenn Clark Radio with Clark, Jim Callis and Zach Moore and discussed his comments to Netflix.

Asked if he thinks the Steelers are dirty, Flacco pushed back on that line of thinking.

“I don’t think so. I actually enjoy that part of the game…,” Flacco said on radio Tuesday, according to a tweet from the show. “I remember talking about [the hit from TJ Watt last season], he probably knew I was banged up and that’s part of the game.

“When guys are hurt, it’s your job to exploit that.”

Are the Steelers dirty? @JoeFlacco: “I don’t think so. I actually enjoy that part of the game… I remember talking about [the hit from TJ Watt last season], he probably knew I was banged up and that’s part of the game. When guys are hurt, it’s your job to exploit that.”

— Glenn Clark (@GlennClarkRadio) July 14, 2026

That’s part of the game. To Flacco’s credit, he acknowledged that’s football during the Netflix show. That’s the defender’s job, especially when trying to get after the quarterback.

Steelers team captain Cameron Heyward had a similar line of thinking a few years ago going against the Cleveland Browns and then-quarterback Baker Mayfield, which led to some controversy. But that’s football.