Steelers vs. Bengals rivalry, explained: The hits, history and heated moments that define the AFC North battle

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the NFL’s defining franchises for decades — and with that comes rivalries that feel personal. Few matchups capture that edge like Steelers vs. Bengals.

This rivalry is younger than Steelers-Ravens or Steelers-Browns, but it’s delivered plenty: franchise QB battles, playoff chaos, hard hits, and even rule changes sparked by moments between these teams. It started as a one-sided series, but in recent years, Cincinnati has pushed back — and the animosity has only grown.

Here’s the full breakdown of the Steelers-Bengals rivalry, from its origins to the games, stars, and flashpoints that shaped it.

The origins of the Steelers–Bengals rivalry

The rivalry began in 1970, when Cincinnati joined the NFL following the AFL-NFL merger era.

The Bengals won four of the first five meetings, but Pittsburgh seized control during the 1970s, leading the series 14–6 in that decade while building a dynasty behind Chuck Noll and the legendary “Steel Curtain” defense.

The 1980s flipped the script. Cincinnati closed the gap and became a true peer at times, reaching the Super Bowl multiple times and helping knock Pittsburgh out of playoff contention in key seasons — including 1980, when the Steelers missed the postseason for the first time since 1971.

Steelers vs. Bengals: The most intense games in rivalry history

This rivalry has a highlight reel of turning points — and a few games that still sting (or shine), depending on your side.

• 2001 opener at Heinz Field (now Acrisure Stadium): Pittsburgh opened its new stadium with a win over Cincinnati.
• 2005 AFC Wild Card: The teams met in the playoffs for the first time. Carson Palmer was injured early, and the Steelers won 31–17 on the way to a Super Bowl title.
• 2015 AFC Wild Card (the chaos game): Ben Roethlisberger left with an injury, returned later, and Pittsburgh stole the game late after a sequence of penalties and turnovers set up a walk-off field goal.
• 2017 brutality: A Steelers win featured a wave of penalties, injuries, and suspensions — the kind of game people point to when they say, “That’s AFC North football.”

The modern era: From Big Ben to Burrow

For years, Roethlisberger defined this rivalry. He dominated the matchup, going 33–9 against Cincinnati and repeatedly shutting the door when the Bengals seemed ready to break through.

Then came Joe Burrow, and the tone changed. When healthy, Burrow has produced 15+ passing touchdowns vs. Pittsburgh and helped Cincinnati sweep the Steelers in 2021 for the first time since 2009 — a sign that the rivalry was no longer on autopilot.

Even as Pittsburgh has remained consistently competitive, Cincinnati’s offense has turned the matchup into a weekly chess match: Burrow and the Bengals’ weapons vs. Pittsburgh’s pass rush and ball-hawking secondary.

On defense, the modern faces include:

• T.J. Watt, a game-wrecker with 40+ solo tackles and two interceptions vs. Cincinnati
• Minkah Fitzpatrick, another key piece with 44+ tackles and two interceptions in the matchup

Why Steelers vs. Bengals is one of the NFL’s most emotional rivalries

Steelers-Bengals is intense because it’s not just physical — it’s personal, and the fallout has been real.

A few moments have defined the edge:

• 2008: A block by Hines Ward on Keith Rivers led to a broken jaw and helped fuel a rule emphasis against high contact on defenseless players.
• 2015 Wild Card: A hit by Vontaze Burfict on Antonio Brown drew a flag and poured gasoline on an already toxic night.
• That same game also became famous for sideline controversy, including Joey Porter entering the field area while Brown was attended to — a flashpoint that contributed to tighter enforcement around who can be on the field during injury situations.

More recently, the rivalry has felt closer to even. Injuries, shifting rosters, and Cincinnati’s rise have turned Steelers vs. Bengals into a matchup that can swing either way — and still brings out the worst (and best) in both fan bases.