The first 30 minutes of the Joe Flacco era in Cincinnati produced more of the same for a stagnant Bengals offense that was struggling without injured quarterback Joe Burrow.
But after the break, there were signs that Cincinnati's offense could at least return to normal under Flacco. The efforts did not lead to victory. But the Bengals pressured the Packers after a scoreless first half as Green Bay cruised to a 27-18 victory.
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After Sunday's attempts to suggest that Flacco is the answer Cincinnati needs, it was a little early. He was a terrible 4-of-9 starter for most of the first half and only passed for 13 yards. Four of the Bengals' drives in the first half ended in punts – three of them on 3-and-outs – and another ended in a 67-yard missed field goal before halftime. Receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins continued to be non-factors.
But Flacco and the Bengals offense improved as the game went on. Cincinnati came out of a scoreless first half with a 10-0 lead and marched 76 yards for a touchdown. The drive ended with a 2-yard fourth-and-goal pass from Flacco to tight end Tanner Hudson in the back of the end zone.
The trip was not a model of efficiency. It took 16 plays and 10:14 to go 76 yards and required a fourth-down conversion to complete it. But there were still points, which was a noticeable improvement from the first two quarters of the game.
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The Bengals kicked a field goal on their next drive and then got what they had been desperately looking for since Burrow went down: a big play from Chase. With Green Bay leading 24-10 and the Bengals facing fourth-and-5 from the Packers' 19-yard line, Flacco threw a pass to a tightly covered Chase at the goal line.
Chase made a remarkable back-over-the-shoulder catch in double coverage and rolled into the end zone for a touchdown.
The score cut Green Bay's lead to one possession with 4:11 left in regulation.
But the Bengals' weak defense, which lost All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson to a back injury in the second quarter, gave the Bengals offense no chance. Green Bay responded with a field goal that pushed its lead back to two possessions with 1:52 left in the game. This field goal made the final score 27–18.
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With the win, the Packers improved to 3-1-1. The loss drops the Bengals to 2-4 and finds them in an even deeper hole as they look to salvage their season.
The Bengals acquired Flacco last week in a rare intradivision trade from the Cleveland Browns, hoping the veteran can keep the season afloat in a weak AFC North amid Burrow's lingering toe injury.
With Burrow playing alongside Chase, Higgins and Chase Brown, the Bengals were expected to have one of the most explosive offenses in the league. Instead, after three games with backup Jake Browning at quarterback, Cincinnati scored a total of 37 points and fell from 2-0 to 2-3.
Flacco was no better in four starts for the Browns (2 touchdowns, 6 interceptions), resulting in him being benched in favor of rookie Dillon Gabriel. But the Bengals were desperate to stop the bleeding in a season that was not yet completely lost, with the hope that Burrow could return at season's end.
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The Bengals will have to hope Flacco can start early next week in the AFC North decider against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
