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Roethlisberger wants 'clean rivalry' between Steelers, Bengals

John Grieshop / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The rivalry between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals is among the fiercest in the NFL.

The teams last met in an ugly wild-card battle that featured 18 penalties and numerous personal fouls. That rivalry will get rekindled in Week 2 when the Bengals travel to Heinz Field.

When both teams take the field Sept. 18, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hopes both sides will be on their best behavior.

"I want it to be a good, clean rivalry," he told Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I don't want it to be a rivalry where people are tuning in to see a fight, to see penalties."

Their postseason clash last year ended with personal fouls leveled on the Bengals' Adam Jones and Vontaze Burfict, and the Steelers' Antonio Brown laying concussed on the field.

"I think it can get out of control, and it did at times," Roethlisberger said.

"I am out there and you see all the stuff going on under the piles. It is one thing to talk a little trash and another thing to say some of the things that are being said."

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