Another chapter was added to the Steelers and Bengals rivalry on Sunday.
In the final minute of action, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with receiver Antonio Brown to propel black and yellow to a 28-21 win over their AFC North rivals.
But earlier on in the game, Vontaze Burfict, who has a noted history with the Steelers dating back to 2016 AFC Wild Card Round, delivered a nasty blow with his elbow to the head of Brown despite two players already wrapping Brown up for the tackle.
Speaking with Ron Cook of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Roethlisberger told the reporter that he heard Burfict threaten JuJu Smith-Schuster that he was next on his hit list.
“He hits A.B., then, literally, as I am under center for the next play, he points at JuJu and says, ‘You’re next,’ ” Roethlisberger said. “How do you allow that stuff?”
Based on this overhead camera from the game, you can see Burfict point at the 21-year-old receiver just as Big Ben is about to take the snap.
Last season, Smith-Schuster laid out a vicious block on Burfict.
Burfict was playing in his second game of the season after serving a four-game suspension after testing positive for PEDs.
As per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL is looking into the hit Burfict dished out on Brown as well as two more plays where the Bengals linebacker led with his head but is not expected to be suspended according to Ian Rapoport.
Steelers right tackle believes the NFL needs to step up and suspend Burfict for his actions, despite no penalties being called on Burfict’s cheap shot to Brown.
Just imagine if these two teams meet in the playoffs again.
(h/t For the Win via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)