Vontaze Burfict and the “Battle of 1816”

Let’s get a few things out of the way right now.  I am a devoted and unashamed fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which by extension means that I automatically have a distaste for any of the following opponents – the Cleveland Browns, the Baltimore Ravens, the New York Jets, the Dallas Cowboys, the Green Bay Packers, and any team with Tim Tebow on their roster.

But right now my focus is on last night’s AFC Wild Card playoff game between the Steelers and the Bengals.  Arguably you could say it was one of the toughest, grittiest playoff games in recent memory.  The defenses both stood up and took notice.  Unheralded players stepped up and showed their pride and grit and determination.  Backups struggled.  The game could have gone either way.  It was truly the “Battle of 1816,” with the Steelers beating the Bengals 18-16.

Hell, the best play that game was when Martavis Bryant had a circus catch where he effectively caught a touchdown pass with his rear end.

Don’t believe me?  Take a peek.

There’s a reason Martavis Bryant’s nickname is “Alien.” This somersault TD catch is pure insanity. #PITvsCIN https://t.co/nswMny6nxq

— NFL (@NFL) January 10, 2016

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

That was simply awesome.

However… for all the great moments in that football game, for all the determination and skill and creativity and highs and lows…

Let’s face it.  Us Steelers fans were waiting to see what would happen with Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict.  Burfict seemed to have designed a black-and-gold bullseye on the Steelers’ most powerful offensive weapons, and during Pittsburgh’s two regular season games against Cincinnati, Burfict did a little “target practice” of his own.

Back in December, Pittsburgh lost star running back Le’Veon Bell to a rolling hit from Vontaze Burfict.

That hit knocked Bell out of the Steelers for the rest of the season.

So let’s spin forward to Saturday night.  Already tensions were high between Steelers players and Bengals players, and in the third quarter, with Pittsburgh having a handy lead, look what happened to the Steelers quarterback.

Burfict walks over him like he was nothing.  The quarterback was knocked out for a while, and went to the locker room for X-rays – while at that same time, Cincinnati fans threw beer bottles and other garbage at the quarterback on his way back to receive medical attention.  Stay classy, Cincinnati…

So now Pittsburgh has to use backup QB Landry Jones for some snaps.  Listen, Landry Jones might be a great quarterback some day, but I’d rather have Matt Saracen under center than Landry Jones.

Okay.  In the final series, the starting QB returns.  They need to advance fifty yards to get in the range of Pittsburgh’s field goal kicking unit.

And then this happens.

Antonio Brown gets knocked into the middle of Kentucky by Vontaze Burfict.  You can see the play in slow motion.  Burfict looked like he was playing Rock’em Sock’em Robots with Antonio Brown and just landed the neck-popping uppercut.  Targeting.  Automatic 15 yard penalty and first down.  Now the ball is close enough for a long field goal try.

But then another Cincinnati penalty – I think this was from Adam “Pac-Man” Jones – and the Black and Gold advanced to the 35-yard line for a chip shot field goal.  Made.  Win.  Go home.

And Vontaze Burfict is still pleading his case.

Plead all day, man.  But just know this.

Your quick-response temper and your head-hunting and your false bravado cost your team a chance to win their first playoff game in 25 years.

Your trash-talking and your targeting helped the Bengals snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

It’s all on you.  Okay, it’s also on Jeremy Hill and Pac Man Jones and A.J. McCarron, but let’s face it.

You concussed Antonio Brown, the most electrifying receiver in Steelers history – right up there with Hines Ward and Lynn Swann and Santonio Holmes.

You probably cost your head coach his job.  Because once again, the Bengals couldn’t get a first round playoff win.  Heck, the other team could have forfeited and Cincinnati would probably still be declared the losers.

This is all on you, Burfict.

So now what happens for the Steelers?

Next week we get to beat on the Denver Broncos, on our way to the 2016 Super Bowl and our seventh Super Bowl championship.

Peyton Manning – out of our way.

Brock Osweiler – out of our way.

And if any Broncos player DARES put on a #15 jersey…

Best if that player stays on the bench and guards the clipboards.  😀