Joe Flacco must have got under Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin's skin at some point.
As Flacco prepares to lead the 2-4 Bengals into Thursday night's bigger-than-big one against the 4-1 Steelers (enough said) at Paycor Stadium (8:15-Prime Video), the usually close-to-the-vest Tomlin was clearly unbuttoned at the Browns for trading Flacco just in time for prep in a short week.
"Andrew Berry must be a lot smarter than me or us because it doesn't make sense to me to trade a quarterback that you think enough of to make your opening-day starter to a division opponent that's hurting in that area, but that's just my personal feelings," Tomlin said Monday of the Cleveland GM as he praised Flacco's arm strength and anticipation.
"Certainly, we've got a full week's work ahead of us in terms of minimizing a veteran, savvy, talented thrower like him, coupled with the (receivers) that they have, and so that certainly has our attention."
Tomlin walked off the podium in disgust when the newser concluded with a question about the challenges a new quarterback faces with two games in ten days.
"Doesn't appear to be hard for Joe Flacco," he barked.
Of course, it could be Tomlin just mind-gaming it. Talk about savvy and veteran. After all, in his 19 seasons in Pittsburgh, he's 10-4 against the Bengals in national windows and 13-12 against Flacco overall, including playoffs.
But against Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, Tomlin is 2-3 in national windows, and the last time Flacco met the Steelers, Flacco came off the bench in Indy to throw two touchdowns in a 27-24 Colts win.
Flacco, or Joe Calm, shrugged Tuesday. When you're about to start your 197th game, you can tell when a coach is trying to stir his team.
"I heard he was talking about it a little bit now that I'm on the Bengals," Flacco said before practice. "I didn't see it. I didn't see how upset he was, but I think he's probably just playing a game a little bit. Doing whatever he has to do."
Flacco can play the game his way, too. Which is to say, not play.
"I have so many great memories of playing these guys and so much respect for them as a team, even though they've changed over the years," Flacco said. "There's still a lot of those same guys, familiar faces. Just a lot of respect for what they've been able to do, and always battling against those guys. You know you're in for
a good one."
Tomlin also knows there isn't much more he can throw at Flacco that he hasn't seen. Their careers are almost just as long, and Tomlin has given the Steelers a scheme and style.
"They have the same ideas they always have, and that's why they're successful," said Flacco, who has a tidy ratio of 27 touchdowns to just 12 picks in 22 regular-season games against Tomlin's defenses.
His 23rd appearance against them on Thursday night makes the Steelers his most common foe, eclipsing the 22 he's faced them and the Bengals. He's had better success against Tomlin than Cincy. His career passer rating against the Bengals is 71.5 compared to 85.4 against the Steelers.