The Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers have had a heated rivalry over the past two decades. While Pittsburgh has had the greatest postseason success, the two fan bases are far from friendly. Pittsburgh fans love to argue that they don’t consider Cincinnati a competitor when compared to the successful Ravens teams of the mid-2000s, which only adds insult to injury for fans in Southwest Ohio. While several of these games have come down to the wire, the AFC North’s divisional rivalries are distinguished by their overwhelming ferocity.
Ten years later, Pittsburgh fans still hold a grudge toward the Bengals linebacker.
While there were numerous incidents of the Pittsburgh squad carrying out dirty schemes against Cincinnati, one such play occurred in 2016 when a Pittsburgh player cracked back at unsuspecting punter Kevin Huber, breaking his jaw. If you’re wondering about the reputation of how rough Pittsburgh defenses were in their prime, I can assure you from years of witnessing Cincinnati take filthy hits from that squad that the reputation is justified. After taking enough dirty knocks, Cincinnati decided to go out and obtain their own physical playmaker.
In 2012, Cincinnati selected linebacker Vontaze Burfict in the second round of the NFL Draft. Despite being predicted to go much higher based on his talent, the great linebacker from Arizona State dropped to the second round due to reported character flaws. Burfict never had any off-field incidents during his entire career in Cincinnati, and the only thing that has harmed his reputation over the years is that he plays hard and is never afraid to make a vicious hit.
Burfict’s biggest moment occurred in the 2015 wild card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. For context, this was one of the most brutal games I’d ever seen in person, as Cincinnati players and spectators alike witnessed running back Giovani Bernard being knocked unconscious by linebacker Ryan Shazier. Where are all the Pittsburgh fans who love to scream about Burfict’s filthy hits while their own players are continually making them? Apparently, they live under a rock.
Following that hit, Cincinnati players and supporters responded emotionally, calling for a big comeback. That attempt was hampered by the controversial play in which Burfict dropped his shoulder and knocked Pittsburgh wide receiver Antonio Brown unconscious. I still believe he was simply aiming to deliver a big hit to remove the ball, but the league and analysts utilized this play to characterize Burfict as a dirty player. Following the play, a chain reaction developed, gifting the game to Pittsburgh after 30 yards of penalties resulted in an easy chip shot game-winning field goal.
Fans went crazy at the time, throwing water bottles at the Pittsburgh players as they ran off the field. While I was booing hard at the time, I will acknowledge that any form of aggression against the athletes will undoubtedly come off as trashy. Pittsburgh supporters continued to criticize Burfict’s every move, even after their wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster delivered a considerably dirtier crack back block on him the following season.
Burfict recently made waves for a TikTok video of him playing Madden in which he said that despite all of his fines and suspensions over the years, he never tried to be a dirty player except when playing Pittsburgh.
Now, I can’t deny that Burfict was a highly physical player, and while he would have been praised as a playmaker 20 years ago, with the evident change toward player safety in the NFL, he was going to be made an example of. The issue I have is with false outrage from fans of a team that has inflicted dirty hit after dirty hit for decades. I recall the 2005 playoff game, when great quarterback Carson Palmer was forced out after a Pittsburgh linebacker crashed into his knee and tore his ACL.
From being the roughest and most physical team in the NFL for two decades, it’s evident that Steelers fans dislike toughness when their team is outmatched by it.
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Steelers’ Arthur Smith takes vital first step in working with Kenny Pickett.
The Pittsburgh Steelers handed over the reins to their offense to former Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith Wednesday, solidifying the team’s ambitions for an offensive squad that will need to improve significantly next season.
Steelers owner Art Rooney II recently conveyed a severe message to his players, indicating that his patience was wearing thin. The future of former Alabama star and running back Najee Harris was apparently being addressed behind closed doors.
As Smith prepares to imprint his mark on the Pittsburgh offense this season, quarterbacks Kenny Pickett and Mason Rudolph’s futures are squarely in the spotlight. Both quarterbacks could be the key to the Steelers’ success in the American Football Conference, as Coach Mike Tomlin’s club is in serious need of improved performances with Patrick Mahomes and others remaining on their competitors’ rosters.
Smith speaks out on Pickett’s potential.
Smith appeared to be interested in starting a relationship with the former Pittsburgh Panthers star in the hopes of developing a rapport that would survive beyond the football field.
That was the substance of a video interview aired on the Steelers’ official Twitter account.
“First off, there’s a relationship that’s got to be built between me and Kenny, and that’s so paramount between the play-caller and the quarterback,” Smith told reporters. “Trust has to be created on a daily basis, and it must be reciprocated.
“I’ve got to earn Kenny’s trust, and vice versa.”
Smith Must Prove Himself in the Steelers’ OC Pursuit.
Smith and the Steelers have a lot of critics entering the season, given the Falcons’ poor offensive performance last season.
To Smith’s point, the Falcons had several young players in significant roles, including Kyle Pitts, Desmond Ridder, and Bijan Robinson.
The Steelers hope Smith’s time in Atlanta will result in a patient and productive approach with the team’s many young offensive players.
