Encore for Battle of the Ages
Sunday marks the second matchup this season between the Bengals quarterbacked by Joe Flacco and the Steelers led by Aaron Rodgers. At 40 years of age, Flacco is the oldest quarterback to start a game in Bengals history, and this week he is set to make his 200th career regular-season start. At 41, Rodgers is the oldest quarterback to ever face Cincinnati.
In their first meeting this season, a Thursday night offensive explosion at Paycor Stadium in Week 7, Flacco and Rodgers shined under the prime-time lights. Flacco, who was making his second start for Cincinnati after being acquired in a trade just nine days earlier, passed for 342 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers, good for a passer rating of 108.6. Rodgers had season highs in passing yards (249) and touchdowns (four), but the Bengals picked him off twice in the second quarter to turn the game's momentum.
Flacco and Rodgers' combined seven passing touchdowns in Week 7 were the most in NFL history in a game that featured two quarterbacks over the age of 40.
From his first Bengals start in Week 6 through his most recent appearance in Week 9, Flacco led the NFL in passing attempts (173), completions (112), passing yards (1,254) and TD passes (11), while being intercepted just twice in that span. On Sunday, he will become the 18th quarterback in league history to start 200 games.