Joe Flacco outduels Aaron Rodgers as Bengals beat Steelers in thrilling vogue

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NFL followers bought an actual deal with on "Thursday Evening Soccer" because the Cincinnati Bengals snapped their three-game shedding streak with an exciting 31-30 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers at house.

The Bengals, determined for a win after beginning the season 2-0, at the moment are 3-4, whereas the Steelers fall to 4-2 on the 12 months.

And whereas they could be nicely previous their primes, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco placed on a present prefer it was the early 2010s in Cincinnati.

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Joe Flacco of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a cross in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers throughout the first quarter within the recreation at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey/Getty Photographs)

It began with Rodgers, who has gotten higher by the week it appears with the Steelers in his debut season. He wanted simply eight performs to go 69 yards for a landing to tight finish Jonnu Smith from 10 yards out, as he scrambled, surveyed and threw a strike to his man for the seven-point lead.

For Flacco, the success didn’t come immediately in his house debut with the Bengals, as they have been compelled to punt twice. However the third possession noticed the drive Bengals followers have been determined for since Flacco was traded from the Cleveland Browns to alleviate Jake Browning of his beginning duties.

Flacco went 10 performs and 72 yards the place he discovered Ja’Marr Chase on certainly one of many passes, this one for an eight-yard landing to make it 10-7.

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Then, Cincinnati’s protection got here via instantly as momentum shifted to the house staff. Jordan Battle intercepted Rodgers on an unbelievable play, ripping the ball out of D.Ok. Metcalf’s palms and staying inbounds whereas doing so. Flacco took that chance and located Tee Higgins, who ran via a number of Steelers defenders for a 29-yard landing.

Rodgers can be picked off once more on the following drive, and the Bengals have been capable of kick a area aim earlier than the tip of the primary half to move into the locker room with a shocking 17-10 lead.

If the primary half wasn’t wild sufficient, the second half blew the doorways off their primetime divisional bout. There have been 5 straight scoring drives, together with three straight landing drives, with Flacco discovering Noah Fant and Rodgers utilizing his tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington to make it a 27-24 recreation.

Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a cross in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals throughout the first quarter within the recreation at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey/Getty Photographs)

The Bengals have been capable of give Evan McPherson a area aim attempt, which he buried to maneuver their result in 30-24, however Rodgers had the chance late within the fourth quarter to present his staff a shot on the lead they have been chasing because the first quarter.

With 2:21 left on the clock, Rodgers escaped strain and his eyes lit up as he noticed Freiermuth alone downfield and he zipped a cross to him that was caught and it was off to the races. Freiermuth went 68 yards to tie the sport, and the additional level was good to present Pittsburgh the 31-30 lead.

However was it too quick of a rating for the Steelers contemplating how Flacco and the Bengals’ offense have been enjoying? You guess.

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Flacco dissected the Steelers’ protection as soon as extra with a seven-play drive that was capped by a superbly positioned 28-yard cross to Higgins, who neatly slid within the crimson zone to waste clock and permit McPherson an opportunity for the walk-off area aim. He nailed it from 36 yards out and the Paycor Stadium crowd was in a frenzy as they lastly bought again into the win column.

Wanting on the field rating, Chase broke his personal franchise file for essentially the most receptions in a single recreation, hauling in 16 of his 23 targets from Flacco for 161 yards and his landing. These 23 targets have been essentially the most a participant has had all season within the NFL by a mile.

Higgins additionally added 96 yards along with his landing on six catches, whereas Chase Brown lastly had the speeding recreation he needed with 108 yards on 11 carries after struggling via the primary six video games.

Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after a landing throughout an NFL soccer recreation Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium on Oct. 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Owens/Getty Photographs)

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Flacco completed an unbelievable 31-of-47 for 342 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. As for Rodgers, his patented Hail Mary didn’t work in the long run. He was 23-of-34 for 249 yards with 4 landing passes and two interceptions.

Jaylen Warren tallied 127 yards on the bottom in addition to 31 air yards on 4 catches, whereas Freiermuth had his breakout recreation this season with 111 yards on 5 receptions.