After losing Joe Burrow in Week 2 of the NFL season, the Cincinnati Bengals looked to have their season over before it could even begin. But Jake Browning showed promise before, but he struggled, losing three straight games to drop the Bengals to 2-3.
The Bengals needed to make a change, and they swung a surprising intra-division trade with the Cleveland Browns for Joe Flacco. After a Week 5 loss, Flacco led the Bengals to a wild 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday Night Football.
After the game, as the NFL on Prime Video shared, Bengals fans trolled the Browns for the Flacco trade, thanking Cleveland for sending Flacco to save the Bengals' season.
Bengals fans troll the Browns over the Joe Flacco trade
With Flacco and Ja'Marr Chase at the desk for the Thursday Night Football postgame interview, a crowd of Bengals fans formed in the stands and trolled the Browns with a chant of: "Thank you Cleveland!"
.@Bengals have a fun message for the Browns 🤣 #TNFonPrime pic.twitter.com/gOr4dgE6QK
— NFL on Prime Video (@NFLonPrime) October 17, 2025
Cincinnati beat the Steelers 33-31 in an incredible back-and-forth game. Both teams blew 10-point leads at one point during the game, and after the Steelers scored the go-ahead touchdown, the Bengals were able to drive down the field, hitting a game-winning field goal.
Flacco, in just his second game with the team, put on an incredible performance. He attempted 47 passes, completing 31 for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He only took two sacks all game, and even threw in a stunning 12-yard run for good measure.
His connection with Chase was also incredible, completing 16 of 23 passes to Chase for 161 yards and a touchdown. Tee Higgins had six catches on 10 targets for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Noah Fant hauled in four catches for 44 yards and a touchdown as well.
The Bengals' passing offense looked as good as it has all year, even when Burrow was starting. Flacco was dominant, and now at 3-4, the Bengals are right back in the thick of things for the AFC North.
Cincinnati likely wouldn't be nearly as well off with Browning at quarterback, and instead, they got Flacco for a late-round pick swap with the Browns. Cleveland didn't have to make that trade, and yet, it's been massively beneficial for the Bengals.
Mike Tomlin questioned the trade, and fans and media alike were critical of the move from the Browns' side of things. And now, after Flacco led an incredible comeback win over the Steelers, the Bengals are coming out of this trade looking like serious playoff contenders.
Bengals fans trolled the Browns by chanting "Thank you Cleveland" after the wild Thursday Night Football game. While it's in part a jab at the Browns, their gratitude can easily be seen as genuine, as the Bengals' season looks alive after it looked like a lost year before the Flacco trade.
More Bengals News:
- Cincinnati Bengals acquiring Joe Flacco in trade with Cleveland Browns
- ESPN predicts Bengals trade Trey Hendrickson to Lions for solid draft pick compensation
- When will Joe Burrow return? Turf toe recovery timeline, return date for Bengals star QB
- Bengals' Trey Hendrickson unlikely to play in Thursday Night Football vs. Steelers
- Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase has more tackles than Micah Parsons