Dec 12, 2015 4 min read

CINCINNATI – The Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals have been playoff regulars for much of the past decade. So have the Baltimore Ravens, as the AFC North has been one of the more competitive divisions in the NFL.

Because of that parity, the AFC North championship typically has gone down to the final week or two of the regular season.

But the Bengals (10-2) could it up today with a win over the Steelers (7-5) at Paul Brown Stadium, and nothing would make Cincinnati more happy.

“They were the AFC North champions last year,” said Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis. “In order to be AFC North champions, it’s probably fitting that you have to beat the defending AFC North champions. We have that opportunity.”

The Steelers would like nothing better than to keep that from happening – at least for this week.

Pittsburgh realizes it is a long shot to repeat as division champions and that the Bengals are likely to clinch the title at some point. The Steelers just don’t want it to be this week.

“If we play the way we want to play, that’s not going to happen this week,” said Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward. “We don’t need any extra motivation this week.”

None indeed.

With the Ravens having a down season, the Bengals and Steelers have clearly been the two best teams in the division. And Cincinnati currently sits as the potential top seed in the AFC playoffs.

Part of that record was built on the backs of the Steelers. Cincinnati defeated Pittsburgh, 16-10, last month, intercepting Ben Roethlisberger three times.

That was his return after missing four games with a sprained left knee. The Steelers also lost All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell to a season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of that game.

The injury came on a tackle along the sidelines by Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Many Steelers felt Burfict celebrated the injury and have vowed retribution against the linebacker.

It also marked the second consecutive year Bell has had his season ended by a hit against the Bengals. Last season, Cincinnati safety Reggie Nelson went low on a tackle in the open field and the running back suffered a sprained knee that kept him out of the team’s playoff game the following week.

“I won’t say anything to that guy,” said guard Ramon Foster, who has been outspoken about Burfict’s celebration. “He plays linebacker and I play guard. I’m sure we’ll see each other.”

The Bengals have long viewed their games against the Steelers as their biggest rivalry. The Steelers, however, had viewed Baltimore as their biggest rival.

That might be changing.

“I feel there’s definitely that bad blood,” said Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats. “I feel that it’s going to make it that much better going forward.”

The Steelers have found their groove offensively since that loss to the Bengals. In the four games since, they have averaged 35.8 points per game and have matched an NFL record with four consecutive games with at least 450 total yards.

That has helped them win three of four games since the loss to Cincinnati to stay in contention of the AFC playoff race.

The Steelers currently are tied with Kansas City and the Jets at 7-5 and need to win at least three of their final four games to have an opportunity to make the playoffs.

A loss against the Bengals wouldn’t knock them out of contention, but it would force them to win their final three games to have a chance to get into the postseason.

“I hope we knock `em out,” Bengals cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said. “That’s the definition of a rivalry game.”

It hasn’t always been that way. Despite making the playoffs six times since Lewis became head coach in 2003, the Bengals are just 8-18 against the Steelers in that span under the direction of the McDonald native and Fort Cherry High School graduate.

But the Bengals have the complete attention of the Steelers this week.

“It’s put up or shut up week,” said Heyward. “They have the best record in the AFC North. You tip your hat to them. We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Odds and end zones

The Steelers are 13-3 at Paul Brown Stadium, which opened in 2000. … The Steelers have won eight consecutive games in December, including beating the Bengals twice last December. … Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams needs 47 yards to surpass 1,000 total yards. Williams has 697 rushing yards and 256 receiving this season. … Steelers receiver Antonio Brown needs seven receptions to record his third consecutive season with 100 or more catches. Only five other players have accomplished that feat.