Thursday Night Football, Week 7. Tonight we have a clash of AFC North rivals as the Cincinnati Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers. This game features a matchup of ex-Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers against ex-Jets quarterback Joe Flacco.
The 2-4 Cincinnati Bengals got off to a good start this season, winning their first two games against the Cleveland Browns and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Unfortunately they have not won since, reeling from four straight losses. Star quarterback Joe Burrow went down
with a season ending injury and the Bengals have collapsed with Jake Browning replacing him. Things got so bad the Bengals traded for ancient Joe Flacco to start at quarterback. Now Flacco and the Bengals try to engineer a turnaround against the first place Pittsburgh Steelers.
The 4-1 Pittsburgh Steelers have sole possession of first place in the AFC North and isn’t close. The Bengals are 2-4 and have sole possession of second place in the division. The Steelers have won three straight games despite never scoring more than 24 points in those games. The Steelers have relied on a stout defense, an offense that has been far from prolific but protects the ball, and a turnover ratio of +7. That formula has worked thus far.
The Steelers have dominated this rivalry, taking 23 of the last 31 games between these two teams. The Bengals have had a little better luck recently, winning four of 10 since they drafted Joe Burrow. With Burrow out this year this one could get ugly for the Bengals.
It’s the Bengals and the Steelers tonight on Thursday Night Football. Enjoy the game everybody.