Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco. Albert Cesare/The Enquirer/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Bengals' Joe Flacco can make NFL history against Packers

By Zachary Cariola | Last updated Oct 12, 2025 9:27 AM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 6 riding a three-game losing streak and hope to turn things around against the Green Bay Packers after head coach Zac Taylor decided to make a change at quarterback.

Taylor and the Bengals will turn to 40-year-old veteran quarterback Joe Flacco to get things turned around. Facing the Packers three weeks prior, Flacco has the chance to make history and try to carve up their defense again, with better offensive weapons than he had with the Cleveland Browns.

Joe Flacco can make history against Packers

Flacco played the Packers in Week 3 with the Browns, where he threw for 142 yards (21-of-36) with no touchdowns and an interception, while getting sacked twice. Though he didn’t play well, Flacco did do well enough to keep the Browns in the game and beat the Packers, 13-10.

Making his first start since taking over for Jake Browning, Flacco can become the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to start and win against the same opponent (Packers) while playing for two different teams, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

No quarterback in the Super Bowl era ever has started and won against the same opponent while playing for different teams in the same season. Joe Flacco has a chance to become the first today. He started for the Browns and beat the Packers in Week 3, and now faces Green Bay in… pic.twitter.com/lp70MVfLXX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 12, 2025

Former seven-time Pro Bowl and two-time All-Pro quarterback Jack Kemp was the last player to achieve the feat (before the Super Bowl era), winning over the New York Titans (Jets) while playing with the Chargers (Week 2) and the Bills (Week 14), per CBS Sports.

Joe Flacco’s prior experience against Packers can help him in Week 6

Having played the Packers already, Flacco should have a good idea of what the defense will send his way, which should help him decrease the amount of hits and sacks he’ll take.

Facing the fourth-best defense (283.3 yards) in the league, Flacco will need his top wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, to be healthy for Sunday’s match after dealing with an illness. Chase is "questionable" to start and was limited in practice. Chase is coming off a great game last week versus the Detroit Lions, with 110 yards and two touchdowns.

Having Chase to lean on will add to Flacco's success against the 11th-best pass defense (205.8 yards). However, Tee Higgins will also be available if Chase can’t play. Higgins could become a factor if the game plan against the Packers is to get the ball out quickly and often to either him or Chase to evade Micah Parsons and the pass rush.

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. You can find my other work on Southside Showdown from FanSided and at Chicitysports where I cover all Chicago sports. When not watching sports, I love spending time with my family and learning history.

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