Flacco Takes Flight: Bengals Turn to a Veteran Arm for Redemption in Green Bay: Week 6 Preview

If last week was a disaster, this week is redemption, or at least that’s what the Bengals are betting on as they pack up for Lambeau. After back-to-back blowouts and a run game ranking dead last in the league, Cincinnati made headlines by bringing in veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, a move that’s as surprising as it is intriguing.

Yes, some fans were hoping for Jameis Winston, social media was ready for a “Jameis in the Jungle” revival, but Zac Taylor had other plans. Instead, he called up a 39-year-old Super Bowl MVP who’s already beaten Green Bay this season. That’s right: three weeks ago, Flacco led the Browns to a 13–10 win over these same Packers. Now he’s got another shot to do it again, this time wearing stripes instead of brown and orange. If he pulls it off, he’ll become the first quarterback in 63 years to beat the same team twice in one season with two different franchises.

The challenge? Time. Flacco had exactly four days to learn an entirely new playbook and build chemistry with his new teammates. But by all accounts, he’s already earning respect in the locker room and surprising coaches with how fast he’s picked things up. Taylor didn’t waste a second—he was on the phone with Flacco while the QB was still in the car driving from Cleveland to Cincinnati. “We talked on the phone while he drove,” Taylor said. “We tried to cover all the base pieces, formations, motions, and the run game plan. He’s picking it up quick.”

That hustle extended to the entire team. Running back Chase Brown shared that after their regular practice, the Bengals added a bonus walkthrough just to help Flacco visualize every route and read. “Zac would read him a play,” Brown said, “and Joe would pause, then recite the whole thing perfectly.” For a team desperate for rhythm and leadership on offense, that kind of presence matters.

Meanwhile, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur isn’t buying the “rusty old vet” narrative. “Flacco’s been playing this game for a really long time,” LaFleur said. “He’s been in a lot of systems, and I’d bet he’ll pick it up fast. He’s got some good guys to throw to.” Translation: Green Bay isn’t sleeping on Joe.

Cincinnati enters this matchup at 2–3, looking to prove that its early-season chaos doesn’t define them. Ja’Marr Chase remains the heartbeat of the offense, Trey Hendrickson is still causing havoc on the edge, and the defense is looking for redemption after two tough outings.

So yes, the Bengals have been humbled, but not broken. A win in Lambeau could change the entire tone of this season, turning a crisis into a comeback story. And if Joe Flacco can beat the same team twice in one year, with two different uniforms, maybe - just maybe - these Bengals still have some magic left in them. The Packers might have the cheese, but the Bengals have the hunger. And this Sunday, that’s the sharper weapon.

Prediction: Bengals rediscover their roar. Flacco finds Chase early, Hendrickson forces a turnover, and Cincinnati walks out of Lambeau with a statement win.