In one of the wildest Thursday Night Football games you’ll see all season, the Cincinnati Bengals outlasted the Pittsburgh Steelers for a massive 33-31 divisional win. The high-scoring affair at Paycor Stadium completely upended the AFC North, pushing the Bengals to 3-4 and dropping the Steelers to 4-3. For a Cincinnati team that looked dead in the water just a week ago, this was the jolt of life they desperately needed in the NFL.
The game’s main attraction was a quarterback matchup straight out of 2012. Two 40-year-old legends, Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers, were slinging it as high-profile fill-ins. You have to wonder what the odds on a Fanatics Sportsbook promo looked like for this quarterback matchup saving two franchises’ seasons. It was a clear sign that both teams were all-in on winning now, even with their franchise guys on the sideline.
A Duel for the Ages (Literally)
Aaron Rodgers put up some truly gaudy numbers for Pittsburgh. He was fantastic for most of the night, throwing for four touchdowns and earning a 105.0 passer rating. In a truly bizarre stat line, all four scores went to tight ends. But his night was ultimately spoiled by two killer mistakes. Rodgers threw two back-breaking interceptions on deep shots to DK Metcalf, turnovers that the Bengals’ offense immediately turned into points.
On the other sideline, Joe Flacco was the definition of a steady veteran. He was surgical, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns for a 103.7 rating. The most important number on his stat sheet? Zero turnovers. In a game decided by two points, Flacco’s mistake-free performance was the difference-maker, as he calmly distributed the ball to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
The Bengals Suddenly Remember How to Run
The biggest shock of the night came from Cincinnati’s backfield. Coming into the game with the worst rushing attack in the NFL, the Bengals offense came out of nowhere. Running back Chase Brown, who had been averaging a miserable 2.7 yards per carry, looked like a superstar. Brown exploded for 108 yards on just 11 carries, a staggering 9.8 yards per attempt.
This offensive resurrection was a direct result of the “Flacco Effect.” With Flacco threatening the Steelers deep, Pittsburgh’s defense couldn’t load the box against the run. That opened up huge lanes, and Brown ran right through them. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that his defense’s inability to stop the run was a primary reason for the loss.
Pittsburgh’s Defense Goes Missing
While Rodgers’ interceptions were costly, the Steelers’ defense has to answer for a total meltdown. The two takeaways by the Bengals were massive momentum swings. Safety Jordan Battle grabbed the first one, and cornerback DJ Turner II made a spectacular play to rip the ball away from Metcalf for the second.
But the turnovers weren’t the only problem. Pittsburgh’s ferocious pass rush, which had six sacks last week, completely vanished. The Steelers finished the game with zero sacks and only one quarterback hit on Flacco. That lack of pressure, combined with their failure to stop the run, was a recipe for disaster.
What This Means for the AFC North
This single game has thrown the entire division into chaos. The Bengals prevented the Steelers from running away with the lead, and now things are incredibly tight.
- Pittsburgh Steelers: 4-3
- Cincinnati Bengals: 3-4
- Baltimore Ravens: 1-5
- Cleveland Browns: 1-5
After the win, Cincinnati’s playoff odds skyrocketed from a measly 9.1% to a much more respectable 27.1%. The Steelers are still the favorites, but the Bengals are now within striking distance. The loss also highlighted a bizarrely specific problem for Mike Tomlin, who is now 0-7 in Thursday night road games against division rivals. With Joe Flacco at the helm, the Bengals have gone from a team in crisis to a legitimate threat in the NFL playoff picture.