The Thursday night game in the AFC North proved that anything can happen. The Cincinnati Bengals, against all odds, could be back in the fight for a playoff spot. In an exciting match at Paycor Stadium, the Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, division leaders, with a score of 33-31. The Bengals, who were coming off a four-game losing streak, faced a Steelers team that had only lost one game this season. However, Cincinnati managed to narrow the gap, fueled by a stellar performance from wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.
Ja’Marr Chase: A Monumental Performance
Chase finished the game with 16 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown, leading a Cincinnati offense that had its best performance of the season. The victory also justified the Bengals’ decision to sign quarterback Joe Flacco, who threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, replacing the injured Joe Burrow. The arrival of Flacco and Thursday’s victory injected a dose of hope into Cincinnati, something they hadn’t felt in weeks.
Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers in a duel between veteran quarterbacks.
Cincinnati BengalsMost surprising performance: Besides Flacco’s great night, Cincinnati’s running game, which had been ineffective for the first six weeks, with Chase Brown not meeting expectations, had a game that could revitalize their season. Brown ran for 108 yards on 11 carries.Key statistic: Chase surpassed 6,000 receiving yards in his career in his 69th game. He is the fifth-fastest player to reach that milestone, along with Justin Jefferson, his former teammate at LSU.Concerning Trend: For the second week in a row, the Bengals struggled with tackling. The coaching staff admitted that this aspect of the defense was not good enough. Rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. was substituted after a missed tackle in the final quarter.Next game: vs. New York Jets (October 26, 1 p.m. ET)
