No, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin [didn’t want to face](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/mike-tomlin-joe-flacco-trade-shocking-browns-g-m-andrew-berry-must-be-smarter-than-me) Joe Flacco again.
Last year, Tomlin told his players to [keep Colts starter Anthony Richardson upright](https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/mike-tomlin-to-steelers-in-2024-keep-anthony-richardson-upright-so-we-dont-see-joe-flacco), so that they wouldn’t have to deal with Flacco. And when Richardson was injured, Flacco beat the Steelers.
Including last year’s game and the prior 22 regular-season starts involving Flacco and the Steelers, Flacco and Tomlin were tied, 11-11 before Thursday night’s contest. Cincinnati’s 33-31 wins gives Flacco the edge, 12-11.
In 25 regular-season and postseason starts against the Steelers, Flacco now has 12 total wins. That ties him with Tom Brady for the most ever by a quarterback against Pittsburgh. The asterisk is that last year’s off-the-bench win with the Colts gives Flacco a 13th.
Flacco gets a chance to win his 13th start against the Steelers in four weeks, when the Bengals travel to Pittsburgh.