Following consecutive blowout losses to the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos in Weeks 3 and 4, Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor was grilled in a mid-week press conference as to whether he still had confidence in Joe Burrow back-up Jake Browning. Taylor’s response was definitive, describing his support of Browning as “unwavering”.

However, after Browning lobbed the ugliest of balls right into the arms of Detroit Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone for his third interception amidst an early October evening at Paycor Stadium, the boos rained down, effectively ending the game for the Bengals and putting their season on a very early precipice. Browning’s heroics of 2023 seemed like a hazy memory and you could see the belief of the Bengals players evaporating before your very eyes.

The ‘unwavering’ confidence in Browning now felt like blind panic. With a North Division — and even an AFC — that felt as wide open as ever, it was now or never for the organisation to try and do something about it. Changes were on the cards. A few names had been swirling around, namely Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Kirk Cousins. Cousins was never going to happen due to the lofty contract that the Bengals would have to shell out on. Wilson and Winston somehow both felt like very underwhelming options as they fell behind rookie Jaxson Dart in New York. The Bengals seemed stuck in this hopeless, Burrow-less mire of a season.

No-one in the media mentioned the 40-year-old, erstwhile Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco, who had been recently benched by the Cleveland Browns in favour of youngster Dillon Gabriel.

According to Taylor, Bengals’ head of personnel Duke Tobin had asked whether Flacco would be a good fit. Taylor gave him a resounding nod of approval and Tobin, amazingly, managed to do the deal with an AFC North rival. As news started to break on the Tuesday after the Lions defeat, the Bengals were busy sending up two cars to northern Ohio — one to collect Flacco and his wife, the other for their belongings. During the 250-mile, four-hour journey, Flacco and Taylor got on a call and began opening up the Bengals playbook and philosophy. Taylor had already told Flacco at this point that he would be starting against the Green Bay Packers just five days down the road. Desperate times……

Despite a 27-18 loss at Lambeau Field, Flacco had an excellent second half and, at one point, had pulled the Bengals to within six points and a chance to win the game in the final quarter. Things started to feel different for both the Cincy faithful and organisation. There was a glimmer of hope with the tantalising prospect of a Thursday night home game against the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers just four days away.

The term ’must-win’ is used to death, but it was a game that the Bengals just had to have. Dubbed, somewhat mockingly in some quarters, as the ‘Unc Bowl’, the game was also a completely unexpected face-off between 41-year-old Aaron Rodgers and the only slightly younger Flacco.

Decked out in tiger white, the Bengals found themselves down 10-0 early but clawed their way back into leads of 20-10 and 27-17, thanks to a pair of defensive takeaways and touchdown passes to Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase and newly-acquired TE Noah Fant. Paycor was pumped and Flacco was really slinging it, with one of the prettiest spirals in the league. Yet, the Bengals tackling, which had been suspect all night, finally broke with just over two minutes to go, allowing a 68-yard touchdown from Rodgers to Pat Freiermuth that gave the Steelers a 31-30 lead.

Unfazed, Flacco dusted himself down one more time, before taking the Bengals down the field with such poise and calmness that you had to wonder what was really unfolding before you. The drive was capped by a beautiful 28-yard dime to Higgins, who had left Jalen Ramsey in his wake before sliding down inside the 10-yard line to keep the clock ticking. It was an exquisite play. Evan McPherson nailed the resulting chip-shot from 36 yards with seven seconds remaining.

Although Rodgers had time for one last Hail Mary, the ball was batted down in the end zone by the jubilant Bengals, confirming that 33-31 Cincinnati would be the final outcome. It could turn out to be pivotal for the men in tiger stripes, who are now 2-0 in the division.

Flacco was asked in the post-match press conference if the now NFL journeyman thought that he would ever experience nights like this again.

“Yeah, it felt like I might not, to be honest, so it’s pretty special,” he said after a lengthy pause. “I love doing this. When you’re out there doing this with the guys and you’re having success, you look into each other’s eyes, you get that feeling of bonding, it’s a lot of fun.”

Flacco’s demeanour oozes quiet assurance. He is very relatable and someone that you would be happy to root for. He finished 31-of-47 for 342 yards, three touchdowns and, crucially, no picks. Flawless. Meanwhile, Ja’Marr Chase broke his own franchise record with 16 catches for 161 yards.

As Flacco left the field, the Bengals fans had chanted his name, along with some hilariously shouting “Thank you Cleveland”. It may be too early to dub Flacco as some white knight, the season saviour for Cincinnati, but it makes the next few weeks intriguing to say the least.

The Bengals still have a multitude of problems to address, mainly on defense yet again. However, with this win, they have remained relevant, at least for the time being. Will we see another Flacco flourish to the playoffs as he did back in 2023 with the Browns? Who knows? With reports coming in that Joe Burrow is determined in his recovery and on target for a mid-December return, Flacco would need to go something to the tune of 4-2 in their next six to set the table for QB1 late in the season. It’s certainly not out of the question, with the much-maligned Bengals offensive line starting to find its feet, providing a clean pocket for Flacco and opening up some well-overdue holes for Chase Brown.

Cincinnati is now just one back in the win column from the Steelers, who have admittedly played a game less. With a tough stretch coming up for Pittsburgh versus the Lions, Packers and Los Angeles Chargers, and the Bengals having two very winnable home games versus the New York Jets and Chicago Bears before their own bye week, anything seems possible.

It certainly would be a very Bengals-esque thing to lose to a winless New York team, but Flacco may be the difference maker. The Bengals were about to disappear in despair down the NFL plughole, but he has not only steadied the ship, but re-ignited hope in the Queen City by the banks of the Ohio.