Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will make some more history Thursday night.

The 41-year-old Rodgers and 40-year-old Joe Flacco will be the starting QBs when the Steelers visit the Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Just two times before have two quarterbacks 40 or older squared off in an NFL game.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Tom Brady and New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees met twice during the 2020 season. Brady was 43 and Brees was 40.

Flacco makes Rodgers think of a different era.

"I've just always enjoyed watching him throw the ball," Rodgers said Tuesday during his weekly media availability. "He's got one of the prettiest balls. Tight spiral. Deep ball thrower. He is one of the old-school, 2000s, '90s prototypical quarterbacks.

Flacco also reminds Rodgers about how much the game has changed since they entered the NFL as first-round draft picks. Rodgers was selected by the Green Bay Packers in 2005, and Flacco was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2008.

"It was the big guys who had the big arms," Rodgers said of quarterbacks of that era. "Now you're seeing some really athletic guys playing the position. Sometimes when you watch how the guys play, you feel like they're playing a different position because of the kind of athleticism and the way the game is called. There's more read-option called. You're seeing more of the college game in the NFL.

"But I've always enjoyed watching Joe play. I have a lot of respect for him and his game."

Both quarterbacks are settling in with new teams. Rodgers was signed as a free agent in the offseason, while Flacco was acquired from the Cleveland Browns just last week in a trade.

The Steelers are 4-1 and lead the Bengals (2-4) by 2 ½ games in the AFC North. Rodgers is pleased with how the Steelers' offense is improving.

"Obviously, we've had some injuries, but seeing some more reactionary plays that we talked about in practice – and we work in practice – showing up on the field on game day," he said. "So, I'm happy with the progression."