The Cincinnati Bengals snapped their four-game losing streak in dramatic fashion on Thursday night, edging the Pittsburgh Steelers 33-31 in a contest packed with history, heroics, and a dash of AFC North drama. Under the bright lights and with a national audience watching, 40-year-old quarterback Joe Flacco delivered a performance for the ages, passing for 342 yards and three touchdowns in just his second start since being traded from the Cleveland Browns. The win, sealed by Evan McPherson’s 36-yard field goal with a mere seven seconds left on the clock, sent Bengals fans into a frenzy — and left many wondering if this could be the spark Cincinnati desperately needed.
Flacco’s arrival in Cincinnati on October 7, 2025, raised eyebrows across the league, not least of all from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. Earlier in the week, Tomlin openly questioned Cleveland’s decision to trade Flacco within the division. By the end of the night, his concerns proved all too real. As Flacco strode onto the field for a postgame interview, the home crowd chanted, “Thank you Cleveland! Thank you Cleveland!” Coach Zac Taylor couldn’t help but grin at the scene, later reflecting, “Our fans are happy, and I’m happy. It’s a big victory. We needed this. It had been a long time since we won.”
This showdown featured a rare NFL spectacle: a duel between two starting quarterbacks in their 40s. Flacco, at 40, outshone the 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers in only the third such matchup in regular-season history. Yet, the game was anything but a walk in the park. The Bengals led most of the second half, but with 2:31 left, Rodgers delivered a vintage moment, connecting with Pat Freiermuth for a 68-yard touchdown to give Pittsburgh a 31-30 lead. On second-and-20, Rodgers rolled left, spotted Freiermuth breaking free from safety Geno Stone, and unleashed a perfect strike. Freiermuth, now in his fifth year, caught the ball at the Bengals’ 36-yard line and never looked back, scoring his second touchdown of the game.
Rodgers, who finished 22 of 32 for 244 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, explained the play’s genesis: “I told him to be ready. I saw something on the pictures on the sideline in the first half. So at halftime I pulled him aside. I had a nice shot down the middle.” It was a classic Rodgers moment — but it only set the stage for Flacco’s own late-game magic.
With just over two minutes to go, Flacco engineered the 23rd fourth-quarter comeback of his 18-year career. The Bengals’ final drive covered 52 yards in eight plays. Key completions to Ja’Marr Chase (15 and 18 yards) pushed Cincinnati into Steelers territory. Then, with 1:39 remaining, Flacco found Tee Higgins for a 28-yard gain to the Steelers’ 5-yard line, putting the Bengals well within McPherson’s range. As the clock wound down, McPherson confidently drilled his fourth field goal of the night, a 36-yarder, to give Cincinnati the lead for good and snap their losing streak.
Flacco, soaking in the moment, summed up the excitement: “It’s very fun. It’s because of games like this that we do what we do.” The Bengals’ offense, which had sputtered in previous weeks, was suddenly firing on all cylinders. They scored on seven of their last eight possessions, a testament to both Flacco’s poise and the playmaking of his supporting cast.
Ja’Marr Chase etched his name into the franchise record books, hauling in a staggering 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown. That makes him just the fourth receiver in NFL history to record two games with at least 14 catches in a single season. “Last week, it seemed we had finally figured out how it was going to be with Flacco and the offensive line. And today we showed what we’re capable of,” Chase told reporters. Tee Higgins added six catches for 96 yards and a score, while Noah Fant contributed a touchdown reception of his own. On the ground, Chase Brown delivered his second career 100-yard rushing game, racking up 108 yards on 11 carries.
The Steelers, now 4-2, had their own offensive highlights. Pat Freiermuth notched four catches for 106 yards, while Jaylen Warren powered his way to 127 rushing yards on 16 carries. Pittsburgh started strong, jumping out to a 10-0 lead in the second quarter, thanks to Chris Boswell’s 41-yard field goal and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jonnu Smith. That opening score was a marvel of patience and protection — Rodgers held the ball for 8.598 seconds, the longest time to throw on a completion in his career, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
But the Bengals’ defense made timely plays. Jordan Battle’s interception of a deep Rodgers pass set up a quick Cincinnati touchdown, and DJ Turner’s late pick of Flacco kept things tense before halftime. The Bengals took a 17-10 lead into the break after McPherson’s 49-yarder.
Despite the loss, Tomlin pointed to his team’s struggles on defense and turnovers as key factors. “I just thought the first half we allowed them to run the ball too much,” he said. “Then we turned the ball over a couple of times, and that just kind of set a negative trajectory. We’re fighting uphill the rest of the way.”
The Bengals’ victory was even more impressive considering key absences on defense. Star defensive end Trey Hendrickson was inactive due to a hip injury suffered in the previous week’s loss at Green Bay. Yet, Cincinnati’s resilience shone through, particularly after a string of tough outings following Joe Burrow’s toe injury on September 14. Jake Browning, who had struggled in relief, watched as Flacco and the retooled offense finally clicked.
Looking ahead, both teams face pivotal matchups. The Steelers will host the Green Bay Packers in a prime-time clash on October 26, while the Bengals welcome the New York Jets to Paycor Stadium that same night. For Cincinnati, this win could mark a turning point — a night when a veteran quarterback, a record-setting receiver, and a hungry crowd combined to deliver a much-needed jolt of optimism.
As the final whistle blew and the crowd’s chants echoed around the stadium, one thing was clear: with Joe Flacco at the helm, the Bengals have found new life. Whether this victory sparks a deeper playoff run remains to be seen, but for now, Cincinnati is celebrating a hard-fought, unforgettable win.