Steelers v Bengals: Throwback to Smith-Schuster's crunching hit on Vontaze Burfict in 2017

JuJu Smith-Schuster showed that he was great with more than just his hands when he delivered a thunderous hit on Cincinnati Bengals defender Vontaze Burfict in 2017. 

Whilst the National Football League may have kicked off on Thursday, the traditionalists might say that the season really starts on Sunday when we see 14 more games played in the first ‘Football Sunday’ since January.

One of those matchups sees the defending AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals take on their AFC North rivals in the form of the Pittsburgh Steelers in a game that could go a long way to deciding the shape of the division moving forward this season.

The Bengals will feel that they’re on a high after taking huge steps forward last season under the stewardship of Joe Burrow at quarterback and Offensive Rookie of the Year wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, whilst the Steelers are entering a new era with Mitch Trubisky at quarterback after taking over from Ben Roethlisberger. 

It is the latest chapter in a rivalry that has given us some big moments over the years, so we thought we’d look back at one of the bigger moments in recent memory between the two teams, and that moment was a huge hit on Vontaze Burfict by Steelers wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.

Smith-Schuster, a 2nd round pick by the Steelers in 2017, had a phenomenal rookie season, breaking out with 917 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, offering the Steelers the perfect #2 option to compliment the then star of the offense in Antonio Brown.

He was also effective for them in the return game, averaging 26.7 yards per kickoff return and even scoring a touchdown that season against the Cleveland Browns.

But if the Steelers fans were in any doubt about what he could bring to the table, he answered those