A quick look at the Bengals' gut check of a 33-31 come-from-behind win against the Steelers Thursday night at Paycor Stadium that put them at 2-0 in the AFC North for the first time since they won it in 2021.
Player of the Game
In a game of two 40-year-old quarterbacks, 25-year-old All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had a game for the ages with Bengals' single-game records for targets (23) and catches (16) on his way to 161 yards.
Chase seemed amazed a) that he had that many ("I thought it was something like nine") and b) that he and quarterback Joe Flacco have barely had time to throw to each in the nine days Flacco has been a Bengal.
"This was a short week and I was sick last week," Chase said. "That's what a veteran does."
After Chase became the first Bengal to have at least 20 targets in a game since Peter Warrick had the record 20 against the Bill Cowher-not-Mike-Tomlin-Steelers at Paycor in 2001, Flacco shrugged and said it was nothing hard.
"I don't think it was anything crazy," said Flacco, who pointed to the simple out routes that built the 40-second drive yielding Evan McPherson’s 49-yard field goal to walk off the first half.
"Simple stuff. Underneath. Getting him one-on-one. That's how we drew it up and that's how it worked out," Flacco said.
Quote of the Night
Bengals center Ted Karras on how good Flacco was after his 108.6 passer rating on 31 of 47 for 342 yards with three touchdowns and no picks translated into the 30th game winning drive of his career.
"Unflappable Joe Flaccoble?"
Game Changer
There was Flacco throwing darts in his most prolific home outing ever against Pittsburgh. (His 363 yards came for the Ravens in Pittsburgh in 2018.) There was Chase setting records, there was running back Chase Brown racking up the second 100-yard day of his career with 108 yards on just 11 carries and there was Aaron Rodgers twirling four touchdown passes on the verge of his 25th fourth-quarter comeback.
But it was Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins who made the biggest play of the night. With the Bengals down, 31-30, Flacco saw him get behind cornerback Jalen Ramsey and hit Higgins for a 28-yard pass down the left sideline he could have taken into the end zone for a touchdown with 1:39 left.
But he followed head coach Zac Taylor’s orders to stay out of the end zone and avoid giving the ball back to Rodgers with time left when he slid into the Pittsburgh seven-yard line.
Three Flacco knees later, and McPherson had the 36-yard winner with seven seconds left.
"Situational football," Higgins said. "Guys said if we get a breakaway, slide at the five, and we win the game. I definitely could have scored, but if I had scored, there would have been a minute and change left on the clock. We would have been biting our fingernails … It's Aaron Rodgers on the other side. He's a baller. Smart play."
O-Line Take A Bow
The Bengals offensive line got a game ball, but not just because the lowest-ranked running team in the league broke out with a season-high 142 yards on 23 carries. They stoned the relentless Steeler pass rush, as right tackle Amarius Mims allowed future Hall-of-Famer T.J. Watt one assisted tackle and half a sack. And that hit on Flacco came with four minutes left.
"Our tackles did a great job," said tight end Drew Sample on a night the big, bad Steelers hit Flacco just three times. "Yeah, we chipped and doubled him (at times). He's their best player. You have to account for him. We did some stuff formationally that even if we weren't chipping him, we had a presence so he was thinking about it. Just to slow him down. And when (Mims) didn't have help, (he) was on his butt."
Money Mac
This is why they call McPherson "Money Mac." Besides walking off the first half and his eighth career winner, McPherson hit two others to go 4-for-4 for the first time since Sept. 15, 2024, in Kansas City and third time in his five seasons. His only misses this season have been from 67 and 56. Other than those, he's 10-for-10.
McPherson dedicated his offseason to wiping away the pain of last year, that included his career-low field goal percentage, and some big late misses, such as one in overtime against Baltimore here.
Thursday night helped put that deeper in the rear-view mirror.
"It definitely makes the work I put in this offseason and preseason show me I'm doing the right things," McPherson said.
"Just going back to last year, this one is so special. The struggles I had last year mentally and the battles I had with myself in my mind and just to go out there and execute in crunch time really feels good."
Slants and Screens
The White Out crowd of 66,569 was the fourth most in Paycor history …
Flacco, who wasn't even fast when he was a 23-year-old rookie in his 2008 debut scoring on a 38-yard run off a busted play against the Bengals, turned another bad play into a gain at age 40 Thursday with the clock ticking under five minutes and the Bengals trying to extend a 30-24 lead
This one went for12 yards.
"It's been a long time," Flacco said.
How long? Not long. He had a 21-yarder on Oct. 6, 2024 against the Jags for the Colts …
Check out the best game photos from Bengals-Steelers Week 7 game, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase attempts to break a tackle during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
S Jordan Battle celebrates an interception during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins makes a catch in the fourth quarter during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins scores a touchdown during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins celebrates a first down during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase, C Ted Karras and OT Orlando Brown Jr. served as the team captains during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
RB Chase Brown carries the ball during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
LB Demetrius Knight Jr. during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco throws the ball during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco throws the ball during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a touchdown with OT Orlando Brown Jr. during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
LB Demetrius Knight Jr. during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
DE Shemar Stewart rushes the passer during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
The Bengals defense before a snap during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
RB Chase Brown carries the ball during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco hands the ball off during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase catches a pass during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
CB Dax Hill during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
S Jordan Battle intercepts a pass during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins scores a touchdown during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins and QB Joe Flacco celebrate a touchdown during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
RB Samaje Perine jukes a defender during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a first down QB Joe Flacco throws the ball during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
CB DJ Turner II intercepts a pass during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
K Evan McPherson celebrates a field goal during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase catches a pass during Thursday Night Football Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Andrei Iosivas celebrates a catch during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
TE Noah Fant celebrates a touchdown during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
K Evan McPherson makes a field goal during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
K Evan McPherson celebrates a field goal during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco drops back to pass during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase runs after the catch during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco throws the ball during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase runs after the catch during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco throws the ball during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Tee Higgins catches a fourth-quarter pass during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
TE Noah Fant during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
LB Demetrius Knight Jr. during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
WR Ja'Marr Chase celebrates a touchdown during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
DE Shemar Stewart during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco throws the ball during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
QB Joe Flacco during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
OT Amarius Mims during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
LB Barrett Carter during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
OT Orlando Brown Jr. during Thursday Night Football during Week 7 against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium, Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
