Steelers say Ravens, not Bengals still top rival

3:43 PM ET

PITTSBURGH — Apparently the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t give the Cincinnati Bengals the satisfaction of coming in first place in anything.

The on-field theatrics of last season were not enough for Cincinnati to usurp the Baltimore Ravens as the Steelers’ top rival, two starting players said at organized team activities this week.

It’s very close, though.

“I can’t call it — if I had to pick, Ravens,” Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton said. “They got us last year. You want to get the win. That’s more important [than the theatrics].”

Steelers-Bengals had a little bit of everything last year, from pregame shoving matches to knee-snapping tackles (literally).

Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict was the primary tackler on plays that injured the Steelers’ top three offensive players: quarterback Ben …

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