First Call: Joe Flacco downplays Mike Tomlin's trade comments; Mike Sullivan's Rangers shut out again
Wednesday’s “First Call” has Joe Flacco’s response to Mike Tomlin’s criticism of the Cleveland Browns trading him to Cincinnati. We have a health update on the Bengals heading into Thursday’s game against the Steelers.
We also examine the officiating crew for that contest. And Mike Sullivan’s Rangers are off to a struggling offensive start in New York.
Not buying in
Whatever hype has been generated by Mike Tomlin’s comments surrounding the trade of Joe Flacco to Cincinnati from Cleveland, Flacco himself is not buying in.
“I think he’s probably just playing the game a little bit and doing whatever he has to do,” Flacco told reporters via ProFootballTalk.
On Monday, Tomlin shredded Browns general manager Andrew Berry for trading Flacco to Cincy since the Bengals are a division rival, leaving themselves with just two rookie quarterbacks after Flacco had been their opening day starter.
And, more to the point, for helping the Bengals buy another option at quarterback besides the struggling Jake Browning. Franchise QB Joe Burrow is currently injured.
In his career against Pittsburgh, Flacco has an 11-11 record in 22 regular-season games against the Steelers. His passer rating is 85.4. He has 27 touchdowns and 12 interceptions with a completion percentage of 61%. The Steelers have sacked him 58 times, the most in his career.
Also, Flacco is 1-2 against the Steelers in the playoffs, with all three games occurring at Acrisure Stadium.
Wait and see
After Cleveland pass rusher Myles Garrett was held without a sack, a tackle for loss or a solo tackle, the Steelers could be faced with another challenge up front in the form of Cincinnati pass rusher Trey Hendrickson on Thursday.
That’s if he plays at all. Hendrickson is on the injury report with a hip problem. He left the field with the injury during Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.
An All-Pro last year with a league-high 17½ sacks, Hendrickson did not practice Tuesday. Bengals coach Zac Taylor told media members in Cincinnati to consider him day-to-day leading up to the game. He’s got four sacks so far this season.
However, rookie defensive end Shemar Stewart is expected to play. Stewart has missed the past four games with a sprained ankle.
“Our expectation is that he’ll be ready to go and he’ll see a lot of action,” defensive coordinator Al Golden said Tuesday via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “He looked good out there (Tuesday).”
Stewart practiced fully, as did offensive linemen Dylan Fairchild, Amarius Mims and Lucas Patrick. Tight ends Mike Gesicki and Tanner Hudson missed practice, along with Hendrickson, due to injury. So did wide receiver Charlie Jones.
More sports
• Browns' Kevin Stefanski says he'll keep calling plays
• ‘He jumps off the film at you’: Steelers DC Teryl Austin praises LB Patrick Queen
• Combined 81 years old, Aaron Rodgers and Joe Flacco to meet when Steelers play Bengals
Don’t get handsy
Offensive linemen for both teams better be on alert Thursday night. According to Football Zebras.com, Clay Martin’s officiating crew is working the game.
According to NFL Penalties.com, he and his crew called holding 63 times last year, 23 times more than any other infraction in the book. They have already called it 17 times this season.
The Steelers have been hit with three holding penalties so far this year on offense; the Bengals have seven.
Twice since the win over Cleveland, Tomlin has chided his team for committing 10 penalties in that game.
Specifically, he has mentioned how he told the team to be prepared for lots of whistles from Ron Torbert’s crew. They have a reputation for throwing plenty of flags. But the Steelers were heavily penalized anyway.
Martin worked the Steelers’ 18-16 home win over the Baltimore Ravens last year. He was also the lead official during the Steelers’ Thursday night home loss to the New England Patriots in 2023.
Blanked in the Big Apple
While the Penguins may have lost 4-3 in Anaheim — blowing a two-goal first-period lead — the scene was worse for Mike Sullivan in New York.
The former Penguins coach saw his Rangers get shut out at home by the Edmonton Oilers, 2-0. It’s New York’s third straight shutout loss at home to start the season.
That’s never happened before in the history of the NHL.
Rangers become first team to open season with three consecutive shutout losses at home in NHL history. pic.twitter.com/6zPOFQ6h0S
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 15, 2025
The Rangers failed to capitalize on three power plays. After the defeat, Sullivan tried to spin a positive.
“The message (to the team) was, ‘We have to make sure we don’t get discouraged, because there’s a lot to like with our game over the last six periods,” Sullivan said via the New York Post. “We’re controlling play, we’re controlling territory, we’re limiting shots and scoring chances (and) we’re creating a fair amount of our own at our end of the rink.”
“Some of our most talented guys are getting really good, high quality looks and the puck hasn’t gone in the net.”
Mike Sullivan on Rangers loss to Oilers. pic.twitter.com/jSVFbX4C6M
— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) October 15, 2025
To Sullivan’s point, the Rangers outshot the Oilers, 30-22, and didn’t commit a penalty on the night.
Meanwhile, the Rangers have outscored their opponents 10-1 in a pair of road games, beating the Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres.
Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at tbenz@triblive.com or via X. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.
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