Joe Flacco’s most impressive feat may have come via his feet.
The 40-year-old passer took a sip from the Fountain of Youth during the Cincinnati Bengals’ 33-31 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on ‘Thursday Night Football.’ Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes for 342 yards and three touchdowns in the victory.
But it was a scamper that caught the attention of viewers and fans alike: On a read option, Flacco took a snap for 12 yards. On the ‘Thursday Night Football’ postgame show, Flacco detailed the play.
‘So there was a handful of plays today that I was like, ‘What is he saying?’ There were formations that ended in F and I was not getting it,’ Flacco said regarding his confusion with the offense.
‘That one (play), I read off my wristband, it was correct. Ja’Marr (Chase) lined up on the ball, Noah (Fant) lined up off, he (Ja’Marr) was supposed to be off the ball. He was supposed to counter motion and bluff that end. And when he was on the ball and the play clock was running down, I was like, ‘Ah, screw it.’
‘I was just gonna hand it off (to Chase Brown), but he (the defender) came off the edge so damn quick, I was like, ‘all right, I haven’t done this since my, probably, first or second year, but I’ll do it now.”
The result? A 12-yard run that left everyone stunned.
‘It felt good, it felt good, I can’t lie,’ Flacco said.
To that end, the Bengals offense must have felt good. It was a complete offensive effort that resulted in a win and a little bit of history for their passer: Flacco now sits in 15th place all-time in career passing yards, in the same game in which Aaron Rodgers moved up to fifth place.
As far as rushing yards go? Well, let’s just say Flacco has a lot more rushing attempts to go to make a dent in the record book.
