If anyone knows about Bengals-Steelers lore, it is Thursday night's Ruler of the Jungle.
As he celebrated after midnight with Joe Flacco, the newest addition to the orange-and-black-history books, Andrew Whitworth could put it in perspective.
After all, he had lived the 2009 bloodbath known as the War of 18-12. The 2012 Geno-Atkins-Is-A-Man Game. The 2015 Brawl in The Paul.
And now he had just witnessed Ja’Marr Chase’s Sweet 16 catches that broke his own Bengals record and Flacco's first game-winning drive against the Steelers in 10 years before he was serenaded with postgame chants of "Thank You, Cleveland."
"That's up there for me," Whitworth texted. "Resilience, grit."
There it is. Bengals 33, Steelers 31 is now forever known as the Thank You Cleveland Game. Some guys, like Chase on Thursday, write history. Some guys, like Flacco on Thursday, write revisionist history.
Like all of the most memorable Bengals-Steelers games, the offensive line always seems to take a bow against one of the league's brass-knuckled legacies.
Not only did they rip off 6.2 yards per rush for their most in a win in 16 years against the sacred remnants of the Steel Curtain, but they held a team that had rampaged to 17 sacks in the last three to just two in this one.
"It's a credit to the plan," said left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., a child of the AFC North whose father played for the Browns and Ravens, just like Flacco.
"Giving us the opportunity to set our pads at the line of scrimmage, be physical on a short week against a really good defensive front. We've got one of the biggest offensive lines in the league, and you give us the opportunity to go body to body on some of these defenses, you see what we can do."
What they did was stop the 4-1 Steelers steamroller in its tracks and keep the AFC North a race.
"Give a lot of credit to our tackles," said center Ted Karras.
"Hats off to (Amarius) Mims," said Brown of his right tackle's duel with future Hall-of-Famer to be T.J. Watt. "He wasn't over me once. There were some chips and help. But there were one-on-ones in there, and Mims took care of business."
Watt got Flacco only once. And that was a mere half-sack and not until four minutes were left. The Steelers hit Flacco only three times.
Because running back Chase Brown was running through gaps at nearly 9.8 yards per pop on 11 stupendous runs. The only Bengals runner better than that on double-digit carries against proud Pittsburgh is one Elbert Woods in a season 37 years ago, when the rookie running back nicknamed Ickey went for 11 yards per on 10 carries in a 1988 Bengals win.
"There are two key tenants in any running game," Karras said. "Getting a hat on a hat and getting downhill. We sprinted off the ball and did exactly that."
If Brown is a child of the AFC North, then what exactly does that make Flacco, throwing darts in the middle of a Who Dey Nation White Out before the fourth largest crowd in Paycor history?
Brown was his ball boy at his first training camp in 2008. In 2010, Flacco posted a fourth-quarter comeback over the Steelers on a touchdown pass to old Bengal T.J. Houshmandzadeh with 32 seconds left. Fifteen years later, and seven weeks after Bengals safety Jordan Battle intercepted him to lead to his defeat to Joe Burrow in Cleveland in the first AFC North game of the year, a Battle interception helped Flacco beat Aaron Rodgers in the biggest AFC North game of the year.
When Flacco kept the ball and ran for 12 yards on a busted play, Orlando Brown couldn't contain himself after he saw Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith bury Chase Brown while Flacco scampered away.
"My favorite moment as a Bengal," Orlando Brown said. "I was screaming, 'He's 40 years old.'"
Now we know why Steelers coach Mike Tomlin ripped the Browns' trade of Flacco a few days before the Thank You Cleveland Game.
"I have so much respect for Mike and the battles that we've had in Pittsburgh and Baltimore. I played him last year in Indianapolis," Flacco said. "I love playing them. I didn't really feel that way to begin with. I didn't love going into Heinz Field. And you know, they did that my rookie year. They beat us three times. But those games against those guys, in my career, those games have been different than others and just the physicality and the energy."
But what about Cincinnati under head coach Marvin Lewis, where defensive coordinators Mike Zimmer and Paul Guenther set annual mousetraps all over Paycor Stadium for Flacco? In his 10 starts here as a Raven, he was 3-7 with eight touchdown passes against 15 interceptions.
"I honestly never really loved coming here and playing. That was unbelievable tonight. Cincinnati would kind of put it on us," Flacco said. "I didn't necessarily love here, but now I get to have a new perspective, at least for tonight. And the fans. Even just around town, they've been great, saying, 'What's up,' or whatever. So, they're obviously very quick to forget and happy that we're going through this, and so am I."
There is revisionist history, and then there is pure history, which Chase seems to be committing every week now. In this game, he became the third wide receiver in NFL history to have 6,000 receiving yards and 50 touchdowns in their first five seasons. The others are Pro Football Hall of Famers Randy Moss and Jerry Rice.
"I would never know what that is until you all tell me at the end of the day," Chase said. "It's a cool opportunity hearing it, but I've still got a long way to go. That's the goal, to go get a Super Bowl and a gold jacket."
Chase went for 161 yards. WR Tee Higgins, topping off his season-high 96 yards, won it with a 28-yard catch down the left sideline, scalding Jalen Ramsey one last time when he alertly hit the deck and didn't score.
"I knew I had a conversion to him and there was a chance to basically end the game," Flacco said of that irresistible man coverage. "I feel like they were kind of playing back-shoulder, so the one adjustment he made there with me and (I) just (threw) it up a little bit more and let him kind of bend into it. I think he got a good release, so I could kind of see that throw happening as I was doing it."
It's what Chase said he saw back in March when he and Higgins signed the biggest receiver deals in the NFL this season on the same day. Big plays. Big wins. A ton of yards. Flacco joked, "800."
"This was supposed to happen, exactly," Chase said.
What he saw in the future is now that part of history known as Bengals-Steelers lore.
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.
