Zac Taylor sends warning about Joe Flacco ahead of Steelers-Bengals clash
Joe Flacco and the Cincinnati Bengals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers for Thursday Night Football, a foe with which Flacco is quite familiar.
The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers are set to kick off Week 7 of the 2025 NFL season on Thursday Night Football, and not only will the game feature the league’s two oldest quarterbacks - Joe Flacco and Aaron Rodgers - but it will also be a familiar meeting for Flacco. And Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has issued a pointed warning to Mike Tomlin and Aaron Rodgers.
“He’s faced them more than anyone”
Flacco, now 40, will make his second start for Cincinnati after the Celveland Browns traded him. And he brings with him years of experience facing Tomlin’s Steelers from his decade with the Baltimore Ravens.
Taylor warned the Steelers not to underestimate Flacco. He believes that familiarity could give the Bengals an edge, noting that Flacco “knows their style of play” and has battled many of Pittsburgh’s core defenders countless times.
“He knows their level of aggression on defense and played against most of their guys over there,” said Taylor. “He was in Indy last year and played against them. Been in Cleveland.”
“So yeah, played them as much as anybody has. I mean obviously he’s probably played them more than anybody has in this league that’s currently playing,” he went on. “So, I think he’s got a great sense of what it takes to win.”
Flacco himself acknowledged his long history with the Steelers, saying he still respects their toughness and consistency. In 22 career games against Pittsburgh, he’s thrown 27 touchdowns to 12 interceptions with an 11–11 record.
But there’s one caveat: he’s never beaten Aaron Rodgers, going 0–3 in their head-to-head matchups.
The upcoming primetime clash adds another chapter to this long-standing AFC rivalry, pitting two of the league’s oldest active quarterbacks - and two of its most respected football minds - against one another in a game with major AFC North implications. The game kicks off on Thursday, October 16 at 6:15 p.m. ET from Accrisure Stadium.
Related stories
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.
Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.