Sep 17, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – The war of words has subsided between the Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals as both sides have tried to play nice in recent weeks.

The next chapter in the on-field battle between the teams, however, will give more insight as to whether Pittsburgh and Cincinnati can co-exist in the same stadium without all heck breaking loose.

The NFL will be watching today’s game at Heinz Field … closely.

NFL director of officiating Dean Blandino told ESPN that veteran referee Pete Morelli’s crew will have a “heightened awareness” for any shenanigans after the last two meetings between the AFC North rivals resulted in social media battles, more than $200,000 in fines and a three-game suspension for Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict.

Both teams have said the past is the past, but once the ball is kicked off that could change. The Bengals (1-0) had to live with the pain of last season’s playoff loss in which they blew a 16-15 lead with back-to-back penalties on Burfict and cornerback Adam Jones.

“Some people seemed to see that Pittsburgh loss as kind of damning to our team,” said Cincinnati left tackle Andrew Whitworth. “But what it taught me, more than ever, is just find a way to win the game. If you’re a good team, you’ll have your opportunities.”

Both teams are good and have been for several years, something that has heightened the intensity of their games. Yet the Steelers (1-0), who have won 14 of the last 19 matchups with Cincinnati, haven’t put the Bengals on the same plateau as the division’s other annual title contender, Baltimore.

“It’s not a slight at the (Bengals). The Ravens have won Super Bowls. We’ve won Super Bowls,” said Steelers defensive end Cameron Heyward. “Those games have come down to the playoffs, where the winner goes to the Super Bowl. It’s not a slight at them. We’re still developing a rivalry, I think.”

Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, who takes a 99-57 record into the game, said he didn’t feel the need to talk to his team about toning down the vitriol. He says having an early leg up in the division standings is more than enough to have the attention of both sidelines.

“We are excited about it. We are always excited about it because No. 1, having an opportunity to play in front of our fans, and No. 2, we respect the rivalries that comprise our relationships in the AFC North,” Tomlin said. “You have two like-minded teams that have the same vision of how their season needs to unfold, and it makes these matchups significant ones.”

And the game will be comprised of many individual matchups.

Both teams must contain the other’s star wide receiver.

Cincinnati’s A.J. Green hauled in 12 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown last week in a 23-22 win against the New York Jets, and Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown had eight catches for 126 yards and two scores in a 38-16 victory at Washington.

“Ben (Roethlisberger) and I both have really talented receivers,” said Cincinnati quarterback Andy Dalton, who was sacked seven times last week.

“I’ve been with A.J. my whole career, he’s been with Antonio for seven years now. So it’s just part of the chemistry and building it. When you’ve got talented players, you get that chemistry. When you’re both trying to be good at what you do, you’re going to have big plays.”

Containing those two big-play receivers will be a key task for both defenses.

The Steelers did a good job of defending Washington’s trio of tight end Jordan Reed and receivers DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon but defending the 6-4 Green, who had half of Dalton’s completions last week, is a completely different challenge.

“You know going out there multiple threats pose a different kind of adversity,” said Steelers strong safety Robert Golden. “But Green, he makes up for what the Redskins have. We know we have to be on top of everything.”

The Bengals also have to be concerned with Pittsburgh running back DeAngelo Williams, who rushed for an NFL-high 143 yards and two scores in Week 1 while subbing for suspended Le’Veon Bell.

The 33-year-old Williams, who joined the Steelers as a free agent last season, has a unique perspective on the Pittsburgh-Cincinnati rivalry, even if he did miss the playoff game last season with a foot injury.

He and Burfict had a public battle of words on Twitter in the offseason.

“Everybody knows the fines that are associated with this game,” Williams said. “Everybody knows the professional hatred we have with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Bengals have with us.”

The Steelers are 13-2 in home openers at Heinz Field, matching New England for the second-best record over that period. Denver, which won its home opener last week, is 15-1. … Williams needs 104 rushing yards to become the 50th running back in NFL history to surpass the 8,000-yard mark in a career. … Brown needs four receptions to move past Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver John Stallworth (537) and into third place on Pittsburgh’s receptions list.