It was a night of vintage heroics and high drama at Paycor Stadium as Joe Flacco, the 40-year-old quarterback many had written off, led the Cincinnati Bengals to a nail-biting 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 16, 2025. In a game that will be talked about for years, Flacco delivered a masterclass in composure and precision, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns, and orchestrating a game-winning drive that left fans on both sides breathless.
Flacco’s journey to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Just two weeks prior, he was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Bengals—a deal that raised eyebrows across the league, especially since it sent a veteran quarterback to a divisional rival. The move came on the heels of Flacco being benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel after a rocky stint with the Browns, where he threw for 815 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions in four games. Yet, the Bengals, desperate for stability with Joe Burrow sidelined by a toe injury, handed Flacco the keys to their offense almost immediately.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t mince words in his criticism of Cleveland’s decision. “To be honest, it was shocking to me,” Tomlin said, according to ProFootballTalk. “Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us, because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening starter to a divisional opponent that’s hurting in that area. But that’s just my personal feeling.” After witnessing Flacco’s performance, Tomlin’s frustration seemed more than justified.
From the opening whistle, the Bengals were considered underdogs against a Steelers squad boasting a 5-1 record and led by the evergreen Aaron Rodgers. The Steelers quickly built a 10-0 lead, capitalizing on Cincinnati’s early miscues. But Flacco, showing every bit of his Super Bowl MVP pedigree, calmly led the Bengals back into contention. His chemistry with wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase was nothing short of electric. Chase hauled in a franchise-record 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown, torching a Pittsburgh secondary built specifically to contain elite receivers.
“I think Joe looked like Joe. I mean, I’m happy that he went out there and got a win,” said Browns defensive star Myles Garrett, who watched the game with a mix of admiration and what-ifs. “He played how we know he can, and so he made plays when they needed him to. Got the ball out quick, put on the money down the field, looked great.” Garrett also lamented the Browns’ own offensive struggles, wishing they’d stuck more to their powerful ground game led by Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. “Both of them getting the ball, both of them have different styles, but effective runners in their own right. So, would like to see it, but they saw differently.”
As the game unfolded, Flacco’s experience shone through in critical moments. He hit Andrei Iosivas for a 38-yard strike on third down and found Noah Fant for a touchdown on third-and-goal. Even with minimal time to learn the Bengals’ playbook—Flacco had been in the building just nine days—he maneuvered the offense with the poise of a seasoned veteran. He even surprised fans with a 12-yard scramble, showing he still had some mobility in his legs.
But it was the final drive that cemented Flacco’s performance as one for the ages. Trailing by one point with just over two minutes remaining, Flacco methodically marched the Bengals down the field. A crucial 28-yard completion to Tee Higgins, who finished with 96 yards and a touchdown, set up Evan McPherson’s fourth field goal of the night—a 36-yarder that split the uprights with seven seconds left. The Steelers’ last-gasp Hail Mary fell incomplete, and Cincinnati’s sideline erupted in celebration.
While Flacco’s heroics dominated the headlines, the Bengals’ resurgence was a true team effort. Running back Chase Brown, who had struggled all season, broke loose for runs of 28 and 37 yards, finishing with 108 yards on 11 carries. The ground game’s sudden spark helped open up the passing attack, allowing Flacco to exploit the Steelers’ defensive vulnerabilities.
Not all was rosy for Cincinnati, though. The defense, plagued by missed tackles and a lack of pass rush with Trey Hendrickson sidelined, nearly let the game slip away. Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers took advantage of busted coverage late in the fourth quarter, connecting with tight end Pat Freiermuth for a 68-yard go-ahead touchdown. But the Steelers’ defense couldn’t hold, and Flacco made them pay.
The fallout from Flacco’s performance was immediate and intense—especially in Cleveland. Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski, who admitted he didn’t watch the game, found himself and general manager Andrew Berry under fire from fans and media. Social media lit up with calls for sweeping changes in the Browns’ front office, with some questioning the wisdom of trading Flacco within the division. “Thank you for indisputable evidence that Andrew Berry can’t run a football team,” one fan wrote. ESPN Cleveland’s Nick Paulus was even more scathing: “Andrew Berry, Kevin Stefanski & anyone associated with the ‘Brain-Trust’ for the Cleveland Browns should be FIRED TONIGHT for botching this entire offseason & in-season moves. Joke of a franchise.”
Meanwhile, Flacco’s resurgence sparked a wave of nostalgia. Old comments from former President Donald Trump, who once called Flacco “a very elite quarterback,” resurfaced online. For Bengals fans, it was a night that rekindled hope. With the win, Cincinnati improved to 3-4, climbing to second place in the AFC North—just behind the Steelers. The Bengals now look ahead to a Week 8 clash with the New York Jets, with Flacco set to face yet another familiar foe.
For now, though, the story belongs to Joe Flacco—a quarterback who, against all odds, reminded everyone that experience, heart, and a little bit of magic can still change the course of an NFL season. The Bengals’ playoff hopes are very much alive, and with Flacco at the helm, who’s to say what surprises lie ahead?