The Bengals and Steelers have faced off 111 total times, 109 of those games coming in the regular season. This week’s Thursday Night Football game represents the 110th regular season meeting between the two historic AFC North Rivals and we’ve got two legends of the game under center. Let’s jump right into it.
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Game Information
Matchup Information
- Location: Paycor Stadium; Cincinnati, Ohio
- Date: Thursday, October 16th, 2025
- Kickoff: 8:15 PM EST
Quarterback Matchup
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers (5-12; 2024 – 229.2 YPG | 28 TD | 11 INT)
- Cleveland Browns: Joe Flacco (3-5; 2024 – 220.1 YPG | 12 TD | 7 INT)
Betting Odds
Odds via BetOnline, an industry leader in the sports betting world.
Analysis & Breakdown
Joey…Flacco
Like I said last week, it’s not the Joe everyone wanted under center in Cincinnati but Joe Flacco looked good in his debut with the Bengals. Flacco completed 64% of his passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns; even recording his first turnover free game of the season. Despite coming in behind a really bad Bengals offensive line, Flacco was sacked zero times.
Flacco made it a point to get the ball out quickly and it seemed to work against a Packers pass rush that ranks top three in the NFL. This week it’s more of the same, the Bengals face off with the Pittsburgh Steelers and their 4th ranked pass rush. The Steelers rank 2nd in the NFL with 20 sacks this year and have made it incredibly difficult for opposing QBs.
That being said, the Steelers still rank 31st in receiving yards allowed and 27th in receiving yards allowed to wideouts. Last week we saw both Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase directly benefit from the addition of Flacco. The two combined for 20 targets, 15 of which were deemed catchable. The tandem reeled in all 15 targets with Chase finishing with the lion’s share of 10 targets. The two combined for 156 yards and one touchdown; their highest output since Burrow’s injury in Week 2.
All Smiles in Steeltown
It’s all smiles in Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won four of their first five games, Aaron Rodgers looks great and D.K. Metcalf’s looking like a huge offseason addition. Rodgers is averaging 204.2 pass yards per game and he’s thrown 10 touchdowns to just three interceptions. Pittsburgh’s 2-0 on the road this year and Rodgers’ has thrown six touchdowns in these two games, to just one interception.
Metcalf’s leading the Steelers in receptions, receiving yards, touchdowns and has been one of the key pieces to the team’s hot start. In his last season with the Seahawks, Metcalf averaged 66.1 receiving yards per game and finished the year with just five touchdowns. This year the 27-year old wide out is averaging 71.2 receiving yards per game and he’s already hauled in four touchdowns.
Last week the Steelers came out fresh after their bye week and beat down the Browns. The defense held the Browns to just nine total points, 248 total yards and managed to sack Dillon Gabriel six times. This week they face off with a new-looking Bengals offense and that’s something their Head Coach Mike Tomlin wasn’t happy about.
Shots fired: #Steelers HC Mike Tomlin on Cleveland trading Joe Flacco to the Bengals:
“Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn’t make sense to me to trade a QB you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that’s hurting in… pic.twitter.com/aQJKCxCUaJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 13, 2025
Thursday Night’s Best Bets
Tee Higgins o4.5 Receptions (+120) | BetOnline
This receiving core is elite and it’s a shame the Bengals haven’t been able to put together a fully healthy season. That being said, with Joe Flacco under center the Bengals are once again a team we can look to put our money on; at least on props.
Higgins saw eight total targets in their matchup last week and only five of them were catchable balls. He caught all five for 62 yards and finished the day with a 106 total air yards. This week the Bengals go up against a much softer secondary and equally tough defensive line.
If The Bengals want to move the ball against the Steelers this week, I’m expecting Flacco to continue what worked last week. Quick/short throws with little time spent in the pocket, plenty of targets for his first read and that means Chase/Higgins. The Steelers have done a tremendous job of preventing big plays this year so look for those short underneath routes to open up.
Darnell Washington o2.5 Receptions (+135) | BetOnline
Darnell Washington has out snapped both Jonnu Smith and Pat Friermuth in back to back weeks, he’s seen eight total targets and sits second on the team in routes run. The Bengals have struggled against opposing tight ends this year and it’s something I’m going to take advantage of.
Cincinatti ranks 26th in receiving yards to the TE position, 27th in receptions and 31st in touchdowns. It’s a bit of a sweat, but I think we’re about to see more Darnell Washington in this Steelers offense.
Full #TNF breakdown coming out tmrw, but I’m locking this in today. @YourBettingNews
D. Washington 🏈
o19.5 RecY (-110)
o2.5 Rec (+135)
ATTD (+380)L2 Games: 91%/80% snap share, 2nd in routes run & 2nd in targets.
Bengals vs. TEs
26th in RecY
27th in Rec
31st in TDs pic.twitter.com/fJzW8yBGRu— V (@vsaaauce) October 14, 2025
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