The Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals may only play each other every four years, but when they do meet, sparks usually fly.
Ever since the 2002 division realignment and the structural change of how often the AFC and NFC teams play each other, the Bengals and Packers have only met five times. But in those five times they’ve met, chaos always ensued.
Green Bay’s average score over those five games was 24 points, while the Bengals averaged 26.4 points per game. Each game ended with the losing team being down seven or fewer points. The first three games were won by the Bengals, while the last two were won by the Packers.
Let’s have a refresher of how those games went down.
Packers at Bengals 2005
Green Bay did not have a great 2005 season. It was probably Brett Favre’s worst season as a Packer, and his game against the Bengals was no different that season. The ebb and flow of this game was unconventional, to say the least. Favre threw five interceptions in this game and yet, the Packers had a chance to at least tie it in regulation.
On the final drive, the Packers started to move the ball down the field to try and tie the game. A somewhat controversial pass interference call was made which allowed the Packers to move closer to the Bengals end zone. Then, Favre completed another ball over the middle of the field with the clock moving. Favre, hurrying to catch the Bengals in a bad spot, hiked the ball just for the refs to blow the play dead.
A fan ran onto the field and took the ball from Brett Favre. You can’t make this up.
The Bengals were able to get a little rested and into a good defense with the game having been stopped. The next play, Favre was sacked. The offense then hurried to the line to spike the ball to stop the clock, but it was actually a fake spike. No one on the Packers realized it and the game ended on a Favre scramble/illegal forward pass.
Bengals won 21-14.
2009 Was Just as Wacky
Green Bay had the privilege of hosting the Bengals in 2009, and the unconventional-ness of these games continued. This game went back in forth between the Bengals and the Packers. Rodgers, in his second year starting for the Packers, played well. Carson Palmer threw two interceptions, each to Charles Woodson, one of which was a pick-six.
Green Bay, down ten points, kicked a field goal with 49 seconds remaining in the game. They then got the onside kick. Rodgers drove the Packers down into the red zone but couldn’t stop the clock. Rodgers actually hiked the ball with two seconds remaining, but the refs said it hit zeroes and blew it dead, declaring the Bengals the winner. Another crazy ending. Oh and also, Antwan Odom randomly had five sacks for the Bengals in this one.
Bengals won 31-24.
Packers Vs. Bengals in 2013
This game started just as wacky as the others. Rodgers didn’t even get to touch the ball before finding himself and the Packers down 14-0. The Bengals started with the ball and the Green Bay returner, Ross, fumbled the ball on his own 2-yard line.
Clay Matthews kept the Packers in the game early when he forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown. Before the end of the half, the Packers found themselves up 16-14. Matter of fact, with just over a three minutes and forty seconds left in the 3rd quarter, the Packers hadn’t let the Bengals score since the beginning of the 1st quarter and they were winning 30-14. It didn’t stay that way.
On fourth-and-one, Mike McCarthy chose to go for the first down but running back Jonathan Franklin fumbled the ball that was returned for a touchdown. Green Bay then found themselves all of a sudden losing 30-34.
Once again, the Packers were moving on the final drive of the game and they needed a touchdown. But once again, the Packers weren’t able to complete the win and the Bengals won again, 30-34.
Rodgers’ first Overtime Win
It’s completely strange to me that it took that long for Rodger’s win his first overtime game. The Packers seemingly were always on the wrong side of their overtime games with Rodgers, but that finally changed in another close game against the Bengals in 2017. But this one…this one was different.
This Packers/Bengals game felt like all of the others. The ending is what was different. Green Bay once again found themselves down a touchdown on the final drive of regulation. But this time, the Rodgers-to-Nelson magic overcame the curse of the end-of-game situations against the Bengals. The Packers took it to overtime. The defense held for once in OT. And Geronimo Allison, in a free play, made sure the Packers won this one.
Green Bay won 27-24.
Another Overtime Thriller?
Finally, the 2021 game against the Bengals. And what a game it was! Another name for this game could have been The Drunk Kicking game. With 2:16 remaining in the game, Mason Crosby missed the go-ahead field goal. This left time for the Bengals to go down and set up their own game winning field goal by their elite kicker Evan McPherson, but he missed his kick with 26 seconds remaining. This left 21 seconds for the Packers to get into scoring range and they did just that with three seconds left in regulation -but then Crosby missed that one too!
Overtime! Again! Bengals started with the ball, but Burrow immediately threw an interception, setting the Packers up with another game-winning field goal attempt. But Crosby missed it again! This gave the Bengals new life and they set up another game-winning opportunity for their kicker McPherson. Then he missed it too!
Finally, Crosby got another opportunity to win this crazy game. And this time he hit it right down the middle.
Green Bay wins 25-22.
Another Crazy One in 2025?
What am I ultimately trying to say? Crazy things tend to happen when the Packers and Bengals face off against one another. You never know what can happen. Pair that with my concerns that I mentioned last week with the Packers record after the bye week.
This game could go in a very unexpected way. It kind of already is heading that way. Green Bay will be facing Joe Flacco again for the second time in three weeks. Flacco joined the Bengals this past week after the Browns traded him to the Bengals.
My Final Packers Prediction
I believe Green Bay will win this one 30-24.
ChatGPT thinks:
Packers 27 — Bengals 17
Why: the loss/limitation of Joe Burrow (and Chase’s questionable status) swings the ledger toward Green Bay. The Packers should win the turnover battle and generate enough pressure to keep Cincinnati out of rhythm. If Chase plays healthy and Burrow were to return unexpectedly, this would tighten up — but with the current info, Green Bay looks like the safer pick.
But regardless,
Go Pack Go!
——————
Damon is a diehard, fully-immersed cheesehead who currently lives in southern Missouri. He teaches at a local high school and has a family YouTube channel about all things Packers. You can follow him on twitter at @packersfamily and on YouTube at The Packers Family.
——————
