CINCINNATI — The Bengals beat the Steelers 33-31 on Thursday night to improve to 3-4 on the season.
Not only did they snap a four-game losing streak, but they improved to 2-0 in the AFC North.
Cincinnati desperately needed a win and they got it. Here are our winners and losers from the victory:
Winners
Joe Flacco
Flacco was magnificent on Thursday night, completing 31-of-47 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He’s thrown for 561 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions in two games with the Bengals.
He’s given this offense new life, a higher floor and a much higher ceiling. Flacco is able to read the defense, make a decision and find the playmakers.
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins had 33 targets combined on Thursday night. Chase finished with a Bengals record 16 receptions and Higgins had a season-high six catches for 96 yards. Flacco has given this offense new life with Joe Burrow sidelined.
Ja’Marr Chase
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) gestures after making a first down against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images / Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Chase had a career-high and Bengals record 16 catches (23 targets) for 161 yards and one touchdown. He was the best player on the field. He broke tackles on virtually every catch and got the best of Jalen Ramsey and Darius Slay for much of the night.
Bengals’ Offensive Line
The Bengals’ offensive line kept Flacco clean. He was sacked twice. TJ Watt was a non-factor for most of the night with Amarius Mims keeping the former Defensive Player of the Year in check.
Chase Brown erupted for runs of 28 and 37 yards en route to a season-high 108 yards rushing on 9.8 yards-per-carry.
This Bengals’ offensive front protected Flacco, opened up running lanes and allowed the offense to score on seven of their final eight possessions of the game.
Zac Taylor
Oct 16, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor smiles at quarterback Joe Flacco (16) (obscured) as Flacco runs to the sideline during the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images / Katie Stratman-Imagn Images
Taylor deserves credit for the job he’s done with Flacco. The Bengals traded for the veteran on Tuesday, Oct. 7. He made two starts in nine days and the offense has clearly improved in a major way.
“The biggest thing is he’s been patient,” Flacco said. “So even things like tonight where maybe I wasn’t hearing it right, wasn’t calling it completely right for a handful of plays, it wasn’t like he was getting bothered by it. “He worked with me, he was patient with me and he allowed me to just go play football.”
Whatever Taylor is doing is working because Flacco threw two touchdowns and six interceptions in four games for the Browns. He’s thrown five touchdowns and zero interceptions in two games with the Bengals.
Evan McPherson
McPherson was a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts on Thursday night, including the game winning 36-yard kick with seven seconds left that gave Cincinnati a 33-31 lead.
McPherson has made 10-of-12 kicks this season. His two misses were from 67 yards (would’ve been an NFL record) and 56 yards into the wind at Lambeau.
Money Mac is back.
DJ Turner II
Turner had an outstanding interception while guarding DK Metcalf. He ripped the ball from Metcalf, maintained possession and somehow got both feet down in bounds. He also had two passes defensed and is clearly oozing with confidence.
Turner is quickly becoming the Bengals’ best cover corner.
✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 https://t.co/VhKrN7rHGB
— DJ Turner II (@djturner_5) October 17, 2025
Losers
Bengals’ Defense
The Bengals forced two turnovers, but their defense struggled for most of the night. Aaron Rodgers moved the ball up-and-down the field with ease for most of the game, completing 23-of-34 passes for 249 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions.
That includes a 68-yard touchdown to Pat Freiermuth that gave the Steelers their first lead of the second half 31-30 with 2:31 remaining.
They also struggled to tackle and couldn’t get any pressure on Rodgers. He had 8.6 seconds to throw on his first touchdown pass of the game.
Al Golden
Golden’s unit lacked fundamentals for much of the game. Defense is about running, covering, tackling and putting pressure on the quarterback. The Bengals didn’t have a sack, they finished with just two quarterback hits and two tackles for loss.
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