Cincinnati Bengals: Joe Flacco Impresses While Second-Half Rally Falls Short
The Bengals didn't win in Joe Flacco's debut as their starting quarterback, but they saw plenty to like.
Flacco (29 of 45, 219 yards) threw two second-half touchdown passes and rallied the Bengals before they dropped a 27-18 decision to the Green Bay Packers. Bengals Head Coach Zac Taylor was impressed, considering Flacco had less than a week to learn the offense after being acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
"You get in those games where you're having to throw the ball at the end to get back in it, it's not all stuff that's on the call sheet," Taylor said via the Bengals’ website. "We're having to adlib a little bit. I thought he did an unbelievable job handling that."
The Bengals (2-4) have lost four straight and are trying to stay in the playoff picture until franchise quarterback Joe Burrow returns from toe surgery, possibly in December. With Flacco at the helm, wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase (10 catches, 94 yards, one touchdown) and Tee Higgins (five catches, 62 yards) were involved much more than in Week 5 when Jake Browning was the starting quarterback.
The Bengals have a short week before hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers (4-1) on Thursday Night Football. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin also must have taken notice of Flacco's promising debut with the Bengals because he didn't like that trade.
In a rare move, Tomlin criticized Browns General Manager Andrew Berry for making the inter-divisional trade.
"To be honest, it was shocking to me," Tomlin said. "Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn't make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening day starter to a divisional opponent that's hurting in that area."
In other Bengals news, they may have to face the Steelers without leading pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who suffered a back injury against the Packers and was ruled out in the second half.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Aaron Rodgers, DK Metcalf, Jalen Ramsey Are Flourishing
Pittsburgh's high-profile new additions continued to flourish as the Steelers (4-1) increased their lead in the AFC North with a 23-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns.
Aaron Rodgers (21 of 30, 235 yards, two touchdowns) had another strong outing. DK Metcalf (four catches, 95 yards, one touchdown) was Rodgers' favorite target, and defensive back Jalen Ramsey had two sacks for the first time in his career.
All three veterans are thriving so far in their first season with the Steelers. Rodgers praised Ramsey for being in the lineup after suffering a hamstring injury in Week 4. After a bye, Ramsey returned to the lineup without missing any games, knowing the Steelers would play again on Thursday.
"I think some guys are scared to go out there and play, but for Jalen to go out there with everything he's accomplished in this league, I just can't say enough about the level of respect I have for him," Rodgers said via Teresa Varley of the Steelers’ website. "He had, what, two sacks and pass break-ups and tackles.
"If there was any question about the type of person that he is – take away the incredible player – but the person and teammate, I think he just showed all of us the kind of guy that he is by going out there and playing today."
Former Ravens safety DeShon Elliott, who now starts for the Steelers, said it's too early to get excited about Pittsburgh's fast start. When asked about the Ravens being 1-5, Elliott brought up last season, when the Ravens overtook Pittsburgh late in the season to win the division.
"It's still early in the season," Elliott said via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "We just have to keep stacking these wins. Whatever happens at the end of the season, whether we're AFC North champions or whatever, we've just got to win playoff games."
Cleveland Browns: Switch to Dillon Gabriel Not Sparking Offense
The Browns (1-5) dropped their second straight game since rookie quarterback Dillon Gabriel became their starter, as their passing attack continued to struggle. Gabriel (29 of 52, 221 yards) only completed four passes that were thrown 10 or more yards downfield.
The Browns didn't score a touchdown and are averaging an NFL low 13.7 points through six games. The Steelers sacked Gabriel six times and had 16 quarterback hits.
"There's things that I can do to help get it out as quick as possible, Gabriel said via the Browns’ website. "There's definitely times I need to be better creating completions.
"We've got to create chunks, explosives. That's sometimes yards after catches, maybe that's down the field. That starts we've me, but we've got to find answers."
The Browns host the Miami Dolphins (1-5) in Week 7.
