Rivalry games often get chippy, but Sunday's matchup between the Steelers and Bengals was a more extreme case. It opened with a pregame scuffle and featured trash talking and physical play from both sides. Pittsburgh was able to pull off a 33-20 road win, but according to Ben Roethlisberger, not without taking some cheap shots from Cincinnati.
Ben Roethlisberger not buying Bengals’ excuse for low hit
The Steelers’ QB says Sunday’s game between the two AFC North rivals was the dirtiest one he’s ever played on.
"There was a lot of stuff going on under piles, a lot of extra pushing, a lot of extra shoving," the Steelers quarterback said in a radio interview Tuesday, via CBS Pittsburgh, with Pittsburgh's 93.7 The Fan. "It was definitely as physical, extracurricular stuff as I've been a part of."
Roethlisberger was particularly peeved at Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict for diving at his legs during a pass play in the first quarter.
Burfict was also at the center of the pregame fight between the two division rivals -- the Steelers thought Burfict celebrated after Steelers running back LeVeon Bell suffered what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury during the first matchup between the two teams on Nov. 1
“He said ‘I got pushed into you, my bad,‘” Roethlisberger said. “I turned my phone on afterwards and one of the texts I got from a former player and a friend of mine says, ‘How is this not a fine or a penalty by Burfict?’ and he showed me the clip of it. And since then I have seen the clip, and I don’t buy that he was pushed. You know, I think that he definitely was diving in low and going for my legs.”
Burfict could be facing a fine, which would be his fifth of his career. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin wouldn’t comment on the hit, leaving it up to the league office to decide if it was illegal:
Tomlin: "Not my job at this juncture" to worry about low hits by the Bengals. Said he assumes NFL office will have "due diligence"
— Ed Bouchette (@EdBouchette) December 15, 2015 Roethlisberger added that he thought the game’s officials should have done a better job reeling both sides in. He also called out Bengals fans for cheering Steelers injuries. .
“I understand you want to win a football game, but you never want guys to get hurt,” Roethlisberger said. “We’re out here for the entertainment and to play a game, not to try and injure each other.”
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