Last season, the Cincinnati Bengals flat-out owned the Pittsburgh Steelers in the two matchups in AFC North play, outscoring Pittsburgh by a total of 65-20 on their way to winning the AFC North and making a run to the Super Bowl.
Sunday’s Week 1 season opener at Paycor Stadium between the two AFC North rivals marks another chapter in the long history of the two franchises, which also allows the Steelers to move on from last season’s struggles against Cincinnati.
For All-Pro defensive tackle and team captain Cameron Heyward, Sunday’s opportunity means more because of the AFC North implications, but it’s also a chance for the Steelers to seize upon a great opportunity in front of them, picking up a key win in division play while also showing the league that they won’t roll over against the defending AFC champs.