Football is a game of patterns, but whenever you see the Cincinnati Bengals Green Bay Packers on the same ticket, you can basically throw the script in the trash. It’s a rare cross-conference meeting. They only play every four years or so. Yet, somehow, these two teams find a way to produce some of the most bizarre, heart-stopping, and statistically confusing games in NFL history.
Take the most recent showdown at Lambeau Field in October 2025. On paper, it was a matchup of two teams trying to find their identities mid-season. What we got was a 27-18 Packers win that featured a 67-yard field goal that went through the uprights but didn't count, a legendary veteran quarterback making his debut in stripes, and a "parting of the Red Sea" moment for Josh Jacobs.
The Chaos of the 2025 Meeting
If you missed the Week 6 clash in 2025, you missed a masterclass in "almost" history. Bengals kicker Evan McPherson, who is already a folk hero in Cincinnati, nearly broke the NFL record for the longest field goal. At the end of the first half, he hammered a 67-yarder that caromed off the crossbar and somehow tumbled through. The stadium went silent. But there was a flag. Or rather, a timeout. Matt LaFleur had iced him just in time. The re-kick? Not even close.
That’s just how things go when these teams meet.
For the Bengals, this game was particularly weird because of the man under center. With Joe Burrow sidelined, 40-year-old Joe Flacco made his Bengals debut. Honestly, he didn’t look half bad for a guy who’s been in the league since the Bush administration. He orchestrated a massive 17-play drive that swallowed over 10 minutes of the third quarter. He found Tanner Hudson for a score. He even hit Ja'Marr Chase for a one-handed circus catch that marked Chase’s 50th career touchdown. But it wasn't enough to stop the Green Bay momentum.
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Jordan Love and the New Era in Green Bay
On the other side, Jordan Love is proving that the Packers' transition from the Aaron Rodgers era wasn't just a fluke. In that 2025 game, Love was surgical, finishing with a 101.3 passer rating. He wasn't just throwing bombs either; he was using his legs. His scramble on third-and-8 late in the fourth quarter to find rookie Matthew Golden for 31 yards was the nail in the coffin.
- Jordan Love Stats: 19/26, 259 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT.
- Josh Jacobs Impact: 150 total yards and 2 rushing touchdowns.
- Bengals Standouts: Ja'Marr Chase (10 catches, 94 yards, 1 TD) and DJ Turner II (5 passes defensed).
Josh Jacobs was the engine, though. He described one of his touchdown runs as a "massive" hole that opened up like the Red Sea. When Green Bay's offensive line plays like that, they are a nightmare for any AFC North defense to handle.
A History of "The Game Nobody Could Win"
To understand why fans get nervous about the Cincinnati Bengals Green Bay Packers matchup, you have to look back at October 10, 2021. That game was a comedy of errors in the best way possible. It featured five missed field goals in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and overtime.
Mason Crosby, a Green Bay legend, missed three in a row. Evan McPherson missed two, including one where he started celebrating because he thought he made it. You could see the confusion on the players' faces. It was like there was a magnet on the goalposts. Eventually, Crosby hit a 49-yarder to end the nightmare with a 25-22 Packers win.
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It’s these kinds of games that build the "weirdness" reputation. Whether it’s 2021 or 2025, the Bengals and Packers seem destined to play games that defy logic.
The Forrest Gregg Connection
There’s a deep DNA link between these two franchises that many younger fans don't realize. Forrest Gregg, a Hall of Fame tackle for Vince Lombardi’s Packers, is the man who truly built the Bengals' first era of greatness. He took over a struggling Cincinnati team in 1980 and led them to their first Super Bowl appearance (Super Bowl XVI) just a year later.
Then, in a move that shocked the NFL in 1983, he left the successful Bengals to return to Green Bay as head coach. He wanted to go home. It didn't quite work out—he had a losing record with the Packers—but the bridge between the frozen tundra and the Queen City was permanently built.
Why the 2025 Stats Matter
The Packers now lead the all-time series 8-7. It’s one of the closest head-to-head records in the NFL. When you look at the 2025 stats, a few things jump out:
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- Time of Possession: Green Bay absolutely dominated the clock in the first half, doubling the Bengals' time on the field.
- Defensive Efficiency: The Bengals' Geno Stone has become an interception machine, snagging 12 picks since the start of 2023.
- Rookie Emergence: Matthew Golden for the Packers is looking like the next great Green Bay receiver, averaging nearly 29 yards per catch in the last meeting.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for the Rivalry?
As we move toward the 2026 season, both teams are in fascinating spots. Green Bay has solidified Jordan Love as their franchise guy, while Cincinnati is navigating the complexities of keeping their superstar core (Burrow, Chase, Higgins) together under the salary cap.
If you're a bettor or a fantasy owner, this is a matchup where you play the stars but expect the unexpected. The Packers’ defense under Jeff Hafley has become much more aggressive, shown by how they limited the Bengals to just 65 yards in the first half of their 2025 game. Meanwhile, the Bengals’ ability to adjust—exemplified by that 10-minute drive with Flacco—shows they are never truly out of a game.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Injury Report: The 2025 game was decided as much by who wasn't there (Burrow, Trey Hendrickson leaving early) as who was.
- Bet the Under on Field Goal Consistency: History shows that kickers struggle in this specific cross-conference pairing for reasons science cannot explain.
- Monitor the Trenches: Green Bay’s ability to rotate offensive linemen like Jordan Morgan and Sean Rhyan was the secret to their success against Cincinnati’s pass rush.
The next time these two teams meet, don't expect a clean game. Expect missed kicks, veteran cameos, and at least one moment that makes you scratch your head. That is simply the nature of the Cincinnati Bengals Green Bay Packers rivalry.
To stay ahead of the next matchup, keep a close eye on the development of the Packers' young secondary and how the Bengals manage the "post-Joe Flacco" backup situation to ensure they aren't caught off guard if their starter goes down again. Follow the official NFL transaction wire for updates on roster moves affecting these two squads throughout the 2026 offseason.