This past weekend the Bengals did what they’ve done the past 4 weeks. They lost. Yea, a loss is a loss. But let’s just be honest. The past three losses were unbearable. I mean like, hard to watch no chance of winning, unbearable. This past weekend was different. The Bengals ended up losing to the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay 27-18. This loss was different. You felt the team actually had a chance.
Bengal management made a move that may have saved the season. The team went out and got a proven winner at QB. Knowing the team couldn’t win with Jake Browning at QB they went out and acquired 40-year-old Joe Flacco. Flacco on his worst day may be better than Browning at his best. Flacco nearly pulled off a victory in Green Bay. Asking anyone to come in and play QB on 4 days notice is nearly an impossible ask in today’s NFL. Flacco has been around for a long time. He’s seen it all. He’s won won a Super Bowl. He’s probably seen every defensive coverage every put up against an offense. The man, who was the QB of the Cleveland Browns just one week earlier, came to
Cincy and completed 29 of 45 passes for 219 yards. He threw two touchdowns with 0 interceptions.The team has not had that type of QB play since Joe Burrow was behind center.
The Bengals’ new QB may have lost in his first start, but will face the most pivotal game of the Bengals’ season this Thursday. The stage is set for an early must season win for cincy. The Pittsburg Steelers come to town with a 4-1 record. Cincy is 2-4, Baltimore is 1-5, and Cleveland is 1-5. A win by the Bengals puts them within reaching distance of Pittsburg. A loss will pretty much enables the Steelers to run away with the division title.
The Bengals got to see flashes this past weekend as to why Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins got fat contracts in the off season. It took Flacco a half to start to get comfortable in the Bengal offense. When he did it looked as if the veteran had mastered the Bengal terminology.
If Cincy can start a streak of wins the same way they ended last season they will be right back in the thick of the chase. The next four games are against Pittsburg, New York Jets, Chicago, and Pittsburgh again. A loss to the Steelers wouldn’t mathematically eliminate the Bengals but would take a Mt. Everest type climb to catch Pittsburgh. Joe Flacco may not be Joe Burrow but he gives Cincy a chance to win. Whether the team will do that, only time will tell.