When the Pittsburgh Steelers play any game in the AFC North, it is always a battle and a massive rivalry. Let's go back to 1983 when the Steelers were part of the Central division, facing off against the Cincinnati Bengals. Over the years, matchups between the Bengals and Steelers have been characterized by explosive hits, dirty plays, and intense competition. Both teams harbor a deep-seated animosity for each other.
On October 10, 1983, the Steelers defeated the Bengals 24-14 at Riverfront Stadium. During that game, Pittsburgh recorded nine sacks against the Bengals. Bengals quarterback, Ken Anderson, endured a brutal beating. In the first quarter, as Anderson prepared to pass, Steelers' Keith Gary chased him down, grabbed his face mask, and twisted his helmet 180 degrees.
Anderson was injured and taken to the hospital, where it was discovered he had sprained his neck. Gary celebrated while Anderson lay on the field, sparking fury among several Bengals players, who stated that Gary’s malicious act should have led to his ejection.
The late Ross Browner, father of the Steelers' former offensive tackle, Max Starks, played for the Bengals during that time. He recalled the moment in the iconic book, Facing the Pittsburgh Steelers: Players Recall the Glory Years of the Black and Gold.
“That was not professional or classy from the Steelers team. That was not something that we looked at like it was how you expected Pittsburgh to play. The player (Gary), he not only made the tackle, but then he sort of celebrated while our quarterback was lying there. That was a game I would have liked to win and we felt like our defense did a good job on them. We had put ourselves into a position to win. They were tough, they were going to use all the tricks of the trade, but they were not really dirty. We would try to beat the snot out of each other, but we mostly kept it clean. So when that happened to Kenny, it really put a bad taste in your mouth to have that happen.”
Browner sadly passed away at the age of 67, but his stories, career, and life work live on. That day, the Steelers upset the Bengals, though perhaps not in the most honorable fashion. Gary's dirty play on Anderson resulted in an injury, and celebrating while a player lay hurt on the field was far from classy.
Even the most ardent Steelers fans struggle to watch that clip without recognizing it as a very dirty play. The incident left a bitter taste in the mouths of Bengals players and added more fuel to the already intense rivalry.
His son, Starks, went on to win two Super Bowls with Pittsburgh during his nine seasons with the team. Browner detailed the rivalry and how much the Bengals players wanted to win that game because of Gary's actions.
In today's game, Gary might have faced a multi-game suspension, but at that time, he received only a 15-yard penalty and a later fine of an undisclosed amount from the NFL.
Steelers And Bengals Games Almost Always Produce Scary Plays
Browner and the Bengals players had every right to be upset. However, these rivalry games often produce such contentious plays. When Steelers fans think of the Bengals and dirty plays, Vontaze Burfict comes to mind.
One notable incident is when former Steelers wide receiver, Antonio Brown was crossing the middle of the field, and Burfict delivered a direct, forceful hit to his head. These are the types of plays that emerge in these intense rivalries.
The NFL has made significant efforts to eliminate these kinds of plays from the game. However, when professional football players face off against each other, the intensity of these games can sometimes lead to regrettable actions, as was the case with Gary.
