AFC North rivalry continues in offseason

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

All of this Steelers-and-Bengals animosity isn’t going away. New season, same raw feelings. And it’s going to keep going, right up to the second week of the season.

Pittsburgh’s 18-16 win over Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium in the first round of the playoffs only stoked the dislike between the Ohio River rivals. The Steelers pulled it out with the help of linebacker Vontaze Burfict’s hit to Antonio Brown’s head, which drew a pivotal 15-yard penalty and sidelined the receiver for the next playoff game.

Also, cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones got a penalty for bumping an official while trying to get at Steelers assistant coach Joey Porter on the field as the teams milled about after Burfict’s hit on Brown. The two penalties put the Steelers in range for the game-winning field goal.

The offseason usually marks the time to move on, but that game has stuck with everyone.

“It was boiling all season long, with the different things that were happening in the regular-season game with us and them,” tight end Tyler Eifert said. “It’s not surprising, especially the way the game ended and just emotions running high and all that stuff. It’s not stuff that we would want to lag on like that, but given the circumstances, I guess it’s not surprising.”

The AFC North rivals ratcheted up the animosity during Cincinnati’s 16-10 win in Pittsburgh on Nov. 1. Burfict returned from a knee injury that game and dragged down running back Le’Veon Bell, who tore a knee ligament on the play. Neither team let it go. Players traded shots at each other through social media and interviews leading up to their rematch on Dec. 13 at Paul Brown Stadium.

By that point, it was so intense that a scuffle broke out during pregame warmups. Jones tweeted about his hatred for the Steelers before the game using an obscenity. During the game, Andy Dalton broke his right thumb while making a tackle after he threw an interception, and there were personal fouls throughout.

The Steelers won 33-20, but the series had its ugliest moments ahead.

The teams met again in the opening round of the playoffs at Paul Brown Stadium, and there were rough hits, shoving and trash talking from the opening kickoff right up to the winning field goal in the closing seconds.