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You knew this was coming.
After Ben Roethlisberger went on his weekly radio show on 93.7 The Fan last week and said he wanted the Steelers to play the Jaguars in the Divisional Round of the AFC Playoffs, you knew it was only a matter of time until one of the many talented defenders on Jacksonville’s roster chimed in.
After the Jaguars dismissed the Bills from the playoffs, cornerback A.J. Bouye had this to say about Roethlisberger’s “wish”.
Jaguars CB A.J. Bouye on Big Ben wanting rematch: "Be careful what you wish for. This is what he wanted. This is what he's going to get."
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) January 8, 2018
“Be careful what you wish or. This is what he wanted. This is what he’s going to get.”
Shots fired, bulletin board material posted, whatever else you want to call the two players’ interactions through the media. However, as much as I don’t blame the Jaguars for taking offense to Roethlisberger’s comment, his comments were based more on his own individual desire for redemption, not solely directed towards the Jaguars’ defense.
In Week 5, Roethlisberger threw five passes to the wrong team, and it’s this performance he’ll have to improve on if he wants to get to the AFC Championship game for the second straight season. If there was any thought the Steelers would overlook the Jaguars, you might want to think again. After watching the film of their Week-5 game again, the Steelers will likely have a new sense of purpose and rigor about their preparation.
I have a feeling this war of words between these two teams is far from over, so stay tuned to BTSC for the latest on this story and other news surrounding this huge AFC showdown set for Heinz Field on January 14th.