The Bengals pulled the plug on the Jake Browning experiment on Tuesday, making a rare inter-division trade with the Browns in order to acquire veteran quarterback Joe Flacco.
Browning has struggled since stepping into the starting role in place of the injured Joe Burrow, and after another lackluster performance in Week 5, Cincinnati deemed it was time to find a replacement for their replacement.
Flacco struggled mightily in Cleveland across the four games he started this year, ultimately getting demoted in favor of third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel. Despite that, the Bengals felt he would be an immediate upgrade over Browning, who had eight interceptions in four games.
NFL fans didn't seem to think Flacco was the answer for Cincinnati, and there was plenty of debate as to whether he was truly an upgrade over Browning. The Bengals-Browns trade led to an abundance of mixed reactions across social media, with some expressing optimism about the move, with others failing to see how it was an improvement.
Here's the thing: Every chance you have to get into the playoffs with someone like Joe Burrow at quarterback is gold. And so if Joe Flacco gives Cincinnati a shot to sneak into a depleted AFC bracket with Burrow back in the saddle, then the price here is steal.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 7, 2025
Joe Flacco, throw it to Chase & Higgins‼️
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) October 7, 2025
Joe Flacco completed 58% of his passes and posted a passer rating of 60.3. Yet the Bengals believe he can help them. https://t.co/m2chyDBrmG
— Mike Jones (@ByMikeJones) October 7, 2025
Just replacing a chair on the deck of the titanic. Flacco got benched last season. He got benched this season. Not sure how he lasts behind that OL https://t.co/NGyZM2NLQo
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) October 7, 2025
The Bengals going from Jake Browning to Joe Flacco pic.twitter.com/LwhFTUcaTP
— Novo (@NovoHeat) October 7, 2025
Joe Flacco finding out he’s going to an even worse offensive line
— Joe Frick (@joefrk) October 7, 2025
pic.twitter.com/uk1s7B3ZwE https://t.co/QMigYgLyJU
Imagine being Joe Flacco and being like hell ya I’m getting tf out of Ohio only to realize
— Kendra Middleton (@KenniMiddleton) October 7, 2025
The Bengals get an upgrade in EPA per drop back, per Next Gen Stats. They're going from the last ranked QB in Jake Browning (-0.44) to the second-to-last ranked QB in Joe Flacco (-0.41).
— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) October 7, 2025
Flacco's first dance for the Bengals will come on Sunday against the Packers, a team Flacco beat with the Browns earlier this season.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as NFL World Was Perplexed by Bengals' Decision to Trade for Joe Flacco.
