Last night's Steelers-Bengals playoff game ended in controversy when the Bengals took two personal fouls late in the game to set up the Steelers' game-winning field goal. Fans were seen throwing trash at Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in the second half as he was being carted to the locker room, and NFL Network's Steve Mariucci said the game "did not represent the shield." Mariucci: "I hated to see that for the National Football League. ... This went from a classic to a classless game."
NFL Network's Ian Rapoport said Bengals LB Vontaze Burfict, who was assessed a personal foul on the final drive, has "long (been) a thorn in the side of the league" ("NFL GameDay Morning, NFL Network, 1/10). ESPN's Adam Schefter said of a possible suspension for Burfict, "The real question is whether or not it will go beyond one game. Something tells me it will” (“NFL Insiders: Sunday Edition,” ESPN, 1/10). Bengals CB Adam Jones "took to Instagram to express his frustrations with a profane rant" after the game. Jones "ripped the officials," and the video was "online for about a half hour" before he deleted the post (N.Y. POST, 1/10). Jones deleted the post after Pro Football HOFer Deion Sanders "texted him to let him know his mistake" (DALLASNEWS.com, 1/10).
