CINCINNATI — Ten days in the past, Joe Flacco didn’t know whether or not he’d get to expertise once more what he felt Thursday evening.
Final week, Flacco was a quarterback who had been benched in his 18th NFL season. On Thursday evening, he celebrated one other comeback win within the AFC North.
9 days after his commerce to the Cincinnati Bengals, he led his new membership to a 33-31 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. Needing factors on the ultimate drive to win, Flacco propelled the offense down the sector, with kicker Evan McPherson’s 36-yard area purpose with seven seconds left sealing the victory.
Flacco acknowledged the uncertainty he had felt about getting again to the place he was in Thursday evening.
“It felt like I may not, to be sincere with you,” Flacco mentioned. “It’s fairly particular.”
Within the second recreation following his commerce from the Cleveland Browns, the 40-year-old helped Cincinnati snap a four-game dropping streak. He was 31-of-47 passing for 342 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. It was the primary win for the Bengals (3-4) since beginning quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe harm in Week 2.
Burrow watched from the sideline with a strolling boot on his left foot as Flacco made performs within the closing minutes to forestall Cincinnati from a devastating collapse. The Bengals trailed by some extent after main for the majority of the competition when Steelers tight finish Pat Freiermuth caught a 68-yard landing cross from Aaron Rodgers with 2:21 left.
However in his twenty third regular-season recreation towards the Steelers (4-2), Flacco delivered. With Cincinnati on the cusp of area purpose vary, he hit extensive receiver Tee Higgins for a 28-yard completion down the left sideline that made McPherson’s kick a comparatively straightforward one.
McPherson is amongst those that have loved having the veteran quarterback on their group.
“I like his angle and what he brings to the group,” mentioned McPherson, who now has eight profession tying or go-ahead kicks within the ultimate two minutes of a regular-season contest. “He’s finished a very good job connecting with guys on a very quick discover.”
Flacco did most of his connecting with Higgins and extensive receiver Ja’Marr Chase towards the Steelers. Chase set a franchise file with 16 catches for 161 yards and a landing. It was his ninth recreation with greater than 150 receiving yards, passing Jerry Rice for the second most within the first 5 seasons of an NFL profession.
Chase once more praised the franchise’s resolution to amass Flacco to be the beginning quarterback.
“It’s actually good having him right here for us,” Chase mentioned. “Group made an enormous bounce on him. We believed in him. We obtained him. He got here in, doing his factor and exhibiting off for us.”
Bengals coach Zac Taylor mentioned Flacco’s expertise was essential in a recreation that Cincinnati “wanted to have.” And the veteran virtually made it look easy.
“It’s straightforward for him,” Taylor mentioned. “And it’s not, as a result of he’s placing within the work. He’s so skilled on this state of affairs. You acquire quite a lot of confidence from that as a result of he goes on the market [and] it’s not too huge.”
Final week, Flacco was taking place Interstate 75, speaking to Taylor on the telephone because the coach began explaining as a lot of the playbook as rapidly as doable. Regardless of his expertise, Flacco wished to verify he didn’t waste a chance.
On Thursday evening, Flacco talked in regards to the reduction his household in all probability felt to see him full one other recreation. In his postgame information convention, Flacco mentioned he was keen to listen to how that reduction morphed into pleasure.
“I can’t wait to speak to my spouse tonight and simply hear it in her voice and all these issues,” Flacco mentioned. “Speaking to [family] reminds you of how particular that is.”