PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – You wouldn’t know in listening to the Steelers in the last couple of days if they were facing Joe Flacco or Joe Montana in Cincinnati. The words used to describe the potential impact of the 40-year-old in the Thursday AFC North battle and a look at his recent numbers.
The first comments about Flacco actually were a couple of weeks ago when Tomlin referenced making an analogy before playing Minnesota how he didn’t want Anthony Richardson knocked out of the Colts game last September, in his scenario talking about facing Carson Wentz instead of AJ McCarthy. Richardson was knocked out and Flacco came in and threw for a pair of touchdowns and won Indy the game.
Then last week Tomlin was visibly annoyed after the Browns traded him to the Bengals. I think his annoyance with it was more in principle of trading a quarterback within the division, but it also directly affected his team dealing with the Bengals in a first road division game. As Tomlin said Monday, it was a really good trade for Cincinnati.
“He’s still got a cannon on him,” said linebacker Patrick Queen. “Those two guys they have over there, three guys, honestly, they got athletes all over the field that can catch the ball. With him being over there, that’s crazy how he got traded in division like that. It’s the type of game you want to have on Thursday night. I can’t wait.”
“I think Joe just helps them because he gives them a real veteran arm, a steady presence, the ability to deliver the ball in tight spaces down the field, all those things,” said Steelers defensive coordinator Teryl Austin. “I'm a Joe Flacco fan. I like Joe. Joe is a great dude. Obviously, I was with him in Baltimore and I know he's a really good quarterback.”
“It's reasonable to expect him to be significantly better in week 2,” Tomlin said. “He's been in the stadium with them. They've been in the stadium with him. They understand his demeanor, how he deals with circumstances. I would imagine
they worked hard a week ago on developing timing and cohesion. I would imagine it's taken a significant step after having done so under some live football circumstances. I saw him make some anticipatory throws even last week, and so I thought he was significantly better as the game wore on.”
It started horribly for Flacco and the Bengals in Green Bay on Sunday, Cincy gained one yard on its first possession, then 17, 5 and -2 yards in its next three drives. At halftime, Flacco was 8-15 for 40 yards. The third quarter started with the Bengals going 78 yards on 17 plays running 10:14 off the clock ending on a touchdown pass on a 4th and goal from the two-yard line. A field goal on the next drive to make it 17-10. Bengals answered a Packers score as Flacco threw one up for Ja’Marr Chase who battled for a spectacular catch and then Flacco completed a two-point pass to make it a six-point game with 4:17 to play.
“We just know he’s a savvy vet that knows a lot of defenses,” said Steelers corner Joey Porter, Junior. “He knows how to pick apart defenses.”
“I’m not surprised by that at all, Joe has been in the game a long time,” said corner Darius Slay, who was a teammate with Flacco in Philly & said he helped him with his golf swing. “There aren’t too many concepts you could do that he hasn’t seen before. I saw that being picked up pretty fast. I can see that connect getting better as the year goes on. He’s never thrown to guys like that except for AJ and Smith in practice (in Philadelphia).”
“Joe's a professional, he prepares the right way,” said Steelers captain Cam Heyward. “You know, there's not a route he hasn't seen. He can throw guys open. You know, when you're a student of the game, it doesn't matter where you go, you're gonna be successful in any program you go to.”
“Just a savvy veteran, knows the ins and outs of every defense he plays, no matter where coordinators have been,” Queen said. “He’s just seen so much and so experienced. He’s exceptionally smart.”
What you do notice about Flacco is that he’ll roll through a few games where he’s really good and then a few where he deserves to be benched. There isn’t consistency. In his four starts with the Browns this season he threw two touchdowns to six interceptions. Last year with Indy he had seven TDs to one interception in the first three games, but in his last four games threw six interceptions.
There are still hero moments there with the former Ravens Super Bowl champ, but also some turnover opportunities for the Steelers defense. But until then, it’s all platitudes.
“You know sometimes you just need a change of scenery to do what you're doing and do it better,” Austin said as Flacco has played for six different teams and the Browns twice. “But, yeah, I got a big appreciation for veterans around this League that do that and go to different places and people think, hey, that guy wasn't so good, and he shows up with a new team and does a great job. Hats off to Joe.”
It’s a division game and once again Joe Flacco is in the Steelers way.