Two AFC North teams struggling for consistency meet Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers host the Cincinnati Bengals in a rematch of a dramatic finish from mid-October.
On Oct. 16 in Cincinnati, Joe Flacco outdueled Aaron Rodgers and led the Bengals back from a one-point deficit in the final two minutes, capturing a 33-31 win on Evan McPherson’s 36-yard field goal with seven seconds remaining. Flacco finished 31-of-47 for 342 yards and three touchdowns, while Rodgers threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns but was intercepted twice.
Fresh from a bye week, Cincinnati (3-6) enters having lost two straight and six of seven after a 2-0 start to the season. Pittsburgh (5-4) is hanging onto first in the AFC North despite losing three of four after a 4-1 start.
Last week, the Steelers managed just 10 points and 221 total yards in a 25-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday night. Rodgers completed just 16-of-31 passes for 161 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The Steelers had to get on a plane and travel home on a red eye from Los Angeles, knowing their lead over the Baltimore Ravens was down to one game.
“I’m not lacking confidence,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. “I don’t need a pat on the back. We stunk it up. We’ll be back.”
“I expect to play great every single week, and (last Sunday) was not my best performance. I got to play better than this for us to win,” Rodgers added. “Whatever it takes, if it’s better checks, if it’s better throws, whatever it is, I’ve got to play better. I will. We’ve got to bounce back. We have a division opponent (this) week. We’re 5-4. We are ahead by a game in the division, and we got to play better on offense for sure, but this is part of the season.”
The Bengals’ most recent defeat was a brutal 47-42 loss to Chicago on Nov. 2. Cincy dug out of a 41-27 hole to take a one-point lead with three minutes remaining, only to allow a 58-yard touchdown with 17 seconds remaining.
One week earlier, the Bengals blew a 38-24 fourth-quarter lead and fell to the previously winless New York Jets 39-38 on a touchdown in the final minute.
Flacco practiced only once during the week before the Bears game due to a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder. The veteran passer, who will again practice only once this week to protect the shoulder, has been the least of Cincinnati’s problems without Joe Burrow. Flacco threw for 470 yards and four touchdowns in the loss to the Bears and has led the Bengals to at least 38 points in two of Cincy’s three losses with him at the helm.
From his first Bengals start in Week 6 through his most recent appearance in Week 9, the 40-year-old Flacco led the league in passing attempts (173), completions (112), passing yards (1254) and TD passes (11) while being intercepted just twice in that span.
“I’m going to keep fighting,” Cincinnati head coach Zac Taylor said. “The coaches are going to keep fighting. I know these players have shown that they’re going to keep fighting. It’s frustrating for everybody to put in the work that’s being put in, and this is the result we’ve had. It’s frustrating. Sometimes, you’ve got to take a deep breath and then come back to work and try to uplift others. I’ve faced a lot of adversity here, and the only thing I know how to do is keep trying to lift people up.”
Defensively, the Bengals are likely to be without two key pieces as defensive ends Trey Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) and Shemar Stewart (ankle) are not expected to practice this week, with Taylor pronouncing them doubtful early in the week.
