With mere seconds left on the clock and the weight of a four-game losing streak pressing down, Flacco—at 40 years old and just days into his Bengals tenure—engineered a breathtaking final drive. His poise under fire culminated in a 36-yard field goal by Evan McPherson, sealing Cincinnati’s first win since mid-September and sending the home crowd into delirium. As the final whistle blew, chants of “Thank you Cleveland!” rang out—a playful jab at the Browns, who traded Flacco to their division rival and watched him immediately resurrect the Bengals’ season (AP NFL).
Flacco’s stat line was the stuff of legend: 31 completions on 47 attempts for 342 yards and three touchdowns, outdueling Rodgers (22 of 32 for 244 yards, four TDs, two interceptions) in only the third regular-season game ever featuring starting QBs in their 40s. Ja’Marr Chase, Flacco’s new favorite weapon, broke a franchise record with 16 receptions for 161 yards and a score, becoming only the fourth receiver in NFL history with two games of at least 14 catches in a single season. Tee Higgins added six catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, while rookie Chase Brown exploded for 108 rushing yards—nearly tripling his season average.
Yet, the victory was anything but straightforward. The Steelers, led by Rodgers’ late-game magic, seized a 31-30 lead with just over two minutes remaining on a stunning 68-yard strike to tight end Pat Freiermuth, who finished with 106 receiving yards and two touchdowns. Pittsburgh’s ground game, powered by Jaylen Warren’s 127 yards, kept the Bengals on their heels early, and the Steelers’ defense seemed poised to deliver the final blow. But Flacco, exuding icy composure, responded with the 23rd fourth-quarter comeback of his storied career, dissecting the Steelers’ vaunted secondary—featuring Joey Porter Jr., Darius Slay, and Jalen Ramsey—with pinpoint throws to Chase and Higgins.
Mistakes haunted Pittsburgh, especially in the first half. Two Rodgers interceptions—one snagged by Jordan Battle, another by DJ Turner—turned into instant Cincinnati points, as the Bengals scored on seven of their final eight possessions. The Steelers’ inability to contain the NFL’s lowest-ranked rushing attack proved fatal, as Cincinnati piled up a season-high 142 yards on the ground.
For the Bengals, the win is a seismic shift. Zac Taylor’s squad, written off after Joe Burrow’s injury and Jake Browning’s struggles, is suddenly resurgent and in the thick of the AFC North race. With Flacco under center and a historic connection blossoming with Chase, the Bengals look poised to make a run—especially with upcoming home games against the winless New York Jets and the porous Chicago Bears defense. As Flacco himself said postgame on Prime Video, “It’s because of games like this that we do what we do.”
The Steelers, still atop the division at 4-2, must regroup quickly. Their next test? A homecoming for Rodgers against his former team, the Green Bay Packers, followed by a clash with the surging Indianapolis Colts. For now, though, the night belongs to Cincinnati, to Flacco’s renaissance, and to a fanbase that dared to dream again.
For full highlights, visit Steelers vs. Bengals Highlights: Cincinnati Outlasts Pittsburgh, 33-31 and relive every heart-pounding moment.