At 40 years old, Joe Flacco has seen everything the NFL can throw at him. The Super Bowl MVP, the journeyman, the late-career backup turned midseason savior -- it’s all part of the long, winding story that’s brought him to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Now, as the Bengals head into their Week 10 bye, Flacco’s latest chapter is quietly becoming one of the most important stories in the AFC Wild Card race.
When Flacco was traded to the Bengals after a short stint in Cleveland, it wasn’t expectation that he would completely light the world on fire.
But with Joe Burrow’s long-term health uncertain, Cincinnati needed a steady hand -- someone who could keep the offense functional, feed its playmakers, and at least give them a chance to compete in the AFC’s brutal middle tier.
Joe Flacco defies all odds to flourish as Bengals starting QB
Through his first few starts, Joe Flacco has done more than just keep things afloat. He’s helped the Bengals find an offensive rhythm that’s reminiscent of their high-flying identity.
Since stepping under center, Flacco has thrown for 342 yards and three touchdowns against Pittsburgh in Week 7, then followed that with a 470-yard, four-touchdown explosion against the Chicago Bears in Week 9 in two of his four starts. The arm strength that once defined his prime in Baltimore hasn’t faded much, and his willingness to push the ball downfield has brought life to Cincinnati’s passing game.
And there’s no mystery in what he’s doing, or where the ball is going -- he’s feeding Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins relentlessly, and trusting his pass-catchers to make plays.
That kind of aggression has been refreshing for a Bengals team that looked hesitant and limited when Burrow first went down. Flacco’s decisiveness -- his ability to throw with timing and confidence -- has made it easier for offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher to open up the playbook.
He’s operating with a calm that comes only from two decades of experience, manipulating coverages and finding windows most quarterbacks might not attempt.
And that experience is exactly what Cincinnati needs heading into the toughest stretch of its season. After the bye, the Bengals face the Steelers again on the road, followed by the Patriots at home, and then back-to-back road games against Baltimore and Buffalo before another matchup with the Ravens. It’s a stretch that, likely, will define their season.
On the opposite side of the ball, the defense has been inconsistent to say the least. Inept at times. They look incapable of preventing big plays, and are prone to breakdowns and long drives (I won't remind anyone of what happened against Chicago). That reality puts even more pressure on Flacco and the offense to simply outscore opponents.
The Bengals might not be holding teams under 30 anytime soon, but if Flacco can continue to push the ball efficiently, they can still trade punches with anyone.
He’s not the long-term answer, and no one’s pretending he is. But what he offers right now is exactly what Cincinnati needs: a quarterback who won’t panic, who can handle complex defensive looks, and who’s still capable of putting points on the board in bunches.
Flacco turns 41 in January, but his play has shown the fire’s still there. And as the Bengals navigate a brutal post-bye schedule with playoff hopes hanging in the balance, it’s the veteran who’s giving them belief.
And for a locker room trying to stay alive in a crowded AFC race, that belief might be just enough to keep the Bengals relevant into December.