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NFL fans were in for a real treat on Thursday Night Football when Cincinnati Bengals snapped their three-game losing streak with a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at home.
The Bengals, desperate for a win after starting the season 2-0, are now 3-4 while Steelers fall to 4-2 on the year.
And while they may be well past their prime, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco put on a show like they did in the early 2010s in Cincinnati.
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Joe Flacco of the Cincinnati Bengals throws a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of the game at Pacore Stadium on October 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
It started with Rogers, who seemed to get better every week for the Steelers in his rookie season. He needed just eight plays to go 69 yards and land on tight end Jonnu Smith from 10 yards out as he scrambled, probed and punted to his man for a seven-point lead.
Flacco's success didn't come right away in his home debut with the Bengals, as they had to punt twice. But the third possession provided the boost Bengals fans have desperately needed since Flacco was traded from the Cleveland Browns to relieve Jake Browning of his starting duties.
Flacco had a 10-play, 72-yard drive where he found Ja'Marr Chase on one of many passes, this time for an eight-yard touchdown to make it 10-7.
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Cincinnati's defense then came into play right away as the lead shifted to the home team. Jordan Battle intercepted Rodgers in an incredible play, ripping the ball out of D.K.'s hands. Metcalf and still remain in the game. Flacco took advantage of the opportunity and found Tee Higgins, who ran through several Steelers defenders for a 29-yard touchdown.
Rodgers would be picked off again on the next drive, and the Bengals were able to kick a field goal before the end of the first half and head into the locker room with a surprising 17–10 lead.
If the first half wasn't wild enough, the second half blew the doors off their primetime division showdown. There were five straight scoring drives, including three straight touchdowns, as Flacco found Noah Fant and Rodgers used his tight ends Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington to make it a 27-24 game.
Aaron Rodgers of the Pittsburgh Steelers throws a pass against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter of the game at Pacore Stadium on October 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Bengals were able to give Evan McPherson a field goal attempt that he buried, extending their lead to 30–24, but Rodgers had an opportunity late in the fourth quarter to give his team a chance to take the lead they had been chasing since the first quarter.
With 2:21 left in the game, Rodgers broke free from pressure and his eyes lit up as he saw Freiermuth alone downfield and threw a pass to him, which was caught and he went racing. Freiermuth went 68 yards to tie the game, and the extra point gave Pittsburgh a 31-30 lead.
But was this result too soon for the Steelers, given how Flacco and the Bengals offense played? I bet.
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Flacco once again carved up the Steelers defense with a seven-play drive that culminated with a perfectly executed 28-yard pass to Higgins, who deftly slid into the red zone to run out the clock and give McPherson a chance to make a field goal. He scored from 36 yards out and the crowd at Pacor Stadium went wild as they finally got back on track.
Based on the box score, Chase broke his own franchise record for most receptions in a single game, catching 16 of his 23 targets from Flacco for 161 yards and a touchdown. Those 23 targets were the most a player had by a mile in an entire NFL season.
Higgins also added 96 yards and a touchdown on six catches, while Chase Brown finally had the rushing game he wanted, gaining 108 yards on 11 carries after struggling in his first six games.
Ja'Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a touchdown during a Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football game at Pacore Stadium on October 16, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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Flacco finished an incredible 31 of 47 for 342 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. As for Rogers, his patented Hail Mary routine didn't work in the end. He was 23 of 34 for 249 yards with four touchdown passes and two interceptions.
Jaylen Warren totaled 127 yards on the ground, as well as 31 yards through the air on four receptions, while Freiermuth had his breakout game this season, gaining 111 yards on five receptions.
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