Bengals' Joe Flacco has theory about controversial trade comments from Steelers' Mike Tomlin

Earlier in the week, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin made it known that he felt it didn't "make sense" that Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry was willing to trade quarterback Joe Flacco to the Cincinnati Bengals, a fellow AFC North club, on Oct. 7. 

Flacco will now start when the 2-4 Bengals host the 4-1 Steelers this coming Thursday night. While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Flacco was asked about Tomlin's controversial comments.

Joe Flacco thinks Mike Tomlin was playing a "game" with trade comments

"I heard he was talking about it a little bit, the fact that I'm on the Bengals," Flacco said, per Dave Clark of the Cincinnati Enquirer. "...I don't know. I didn't see it. I didn't get to see how upset he was. But I think he's probably just playing the game a little bit, and doing whatever he has to do."

The Bengals were desperate to find a new QB1 after Jake Browning played poorly in three straight losses while serving as a fill-in for the injured Joe Burrow (toe). Flacco started what became Cincinnati's 27-18 loss at the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday and completed 29-of-45 passes for 219 yards and two touchdowns in that contest. 

Are Bengals facing a "must-win" situation heading into Pittsburgh game?

Both the Browns and Baltimore Ravens ended Week 6 in the basement of the AFC North standings at 1-5, while the Steelers hold a comfortable lead in the battle for the division title. Thus, it's fair to wonder if Flacco and Co. view Thursday night's showdown as a must-win game for a Cincinnati team that was looking to save its season when it acquired the 40-year-old signal-caller. 

"It's tough to put that kind of pressure on yourself and your team," Flacco said about that topic. "You've just got to go out there and you've gotta take it each play at a time, and each one of you has to do your own job and focus on that. And I think the more you can focus on being in the present and just doing your job, then the results take care of themselves the best way."

As of Wednesday morning, ESPN BET had the Bengals as 5.5-point home underdogs against the Steelers. One wonders what Tomlin will have to say about the Browns if Flacco guides Cincinnati to an upset win at Paycor Stadium in front of a prime-time audience.