The fireworks have begun in Cincinnati.
No, not on the scoreboard. The Steelers and Bengals were scoreless in the first quarter of their AFC wild-card game.
These fireworks occurred on the Steelers sidelines, the first skirmish of the night in an AFC North rivalry that basically has become a street fight.
Bengals safety Reggie Nelson forced Steelers running back Jordan Todman out of bounds, and ran into Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak.
Munchak apparently thought that Nelson got in a late hit and he and Nelson had some words.
#Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak getting into it with #Bengals S Reggie Nelson pic.twitter.com/CCqcOBCwmy
— The Sports Daily (@SportsDailyBlog) January 10, 2016
Closer angle of #Steelers OL coach Mike Munchak and #Bengals S Reggie Nelson getting into it pic.twitter.com/0eLzDot9oR
— The Sports Daily (@SportsDailyBlog) January 10, 2016
Todman gained 14 yards on the play, but the Steelers were penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. The Steelers had reached the Bengals’ 39 on the play but were pushed back into their own territory because of the penalty. They eventually had to punt.
With rain getting heavier and points at a premium, that penalty could loom large.
