Bengals' Joe Flacco reflects on embracing 'challenges' of benching, trade after win over Steelers

Quarterback Joe Flacco started the morning of Oct. 7 as a benched member of the Cleveland Browns, having lost three of his four starts in September.

By the end of the day, he had been traded to the Cincinnati Bengals — and over his last six quarters on the field, he’s brought a noticeable boost of energy and optimism to his new team. On Thursday night, the 40-year-old was sensational as he led Cincinnati to a thrilling 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, improving the Bengals to 3-4. 

Following that victory, Flacco was asked what he hoped his latest career twist would teach his children. 

Joe Flacco embraced "challenges" of unique October

"One of the biggest things is that hopefully they'll be willing to take on challenges," Flacco responded, per Grant Gordon of NFL.com. "I think it would've been easy to maybe say, nah, I don't want to do that. Like, 'You want me to play this week? You know, I don't know.' I think that's one thing, is take on some challenges and you can't worry about the outcome." 

Flacco was referencing how he started Cincinnati's game at the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 12 and tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the second half of a 27-18 loss. On Thursday, he turned the clock back as he completed 31-of-47 pass attempts for 342 yards and three touchdowns before guiding the Cincinnati offense down the field for a drive that ended with Evan McPherson kicking a game-winning field goal with seven seconds remaining in regulation. 

"You want to go show them like, 'Hey man, we're going to do some good things.' You hope that they feel that way, but now to go out there and have done it for like the last six quarters," Flacco said about Cincinnati players believing the team can stay afloat while starter Joe Burrow remains sidelined for the foreseeable future due to a toe injury that left him needing surgery, per the Bengals' website. "I think it's going to give us a lot of confidence, and hopefully we can carry that over and use it to our advantage."

Joe Flacco has given Bengals "spark" in less than two weeks

"He brought a spark to this team," Bengals running back Chase Brown added about Flacco after the win, according to The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr. "Quick distribution, confidence and he’s extremely poised. He’s unbothered. Someone that has played in the NFL as long as he has, he is going to bring confidence no matter what, but he’s doing a good job getting the ball out, putting it where it needs to be and letting our playmakers do our thing."

Flacco and the Bengals will now get some extra time to build needed chemistry before Cincinnati hosts the New York Jets on Oct. 26. The 0-6 Jets face the Carolina Panthers (3-3) on Sunday. 

Understandably, Flacco had other things on his mind shortly after Thursday's contest wrapped up. 

"Man, it's a lot of fun," Flacco said about earning his first win at Paycor Stadium as a Bengals quarterback. "...This is what we do it for, is games like that. It came down to the wire. We know it's going to, and really, really happy about how the guys just stayed with it for the full 60 minutes." 

If nothing else, Flacco has clearly given his new teammates hope that the Bengals could remain in the playoff hunt until Burrow is cleared to return.