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Continued: Top NFL Brawls of all time
#3 - Cincinnati Bengals versus Pittsburgh Steelers, 2015
These two division rivals have a history of brawls, so it is tough to choose out one. James Harrison and Vontaze Burfict nearly started one before the beginning of a regular-season game in 2015. In 2018, the brawl happened after the game, with punches being thrown from both sets of players. In 2010, a melee ensued after a win for Pittsburgh over Cincinnati.
But what happened in the Wildcard game in 2015 stands out more than most. It was a meltdown of epic proportions by the Cincinnati Bengals. With 1:36 left to go, they secured an interception while ahead 16-15. It should have been that except the Bengals fumbled the ball in the next possession. That still should not have been cause for concern as Ben Roethlisberger was injured and was unable to advance the ball much, throwing only slants and screens.
But then Vontaze Burfict of the Bengals decided to decapitate Antonio Brown of the Steelers. In the ensuing brawl, Steelers coach Joey Porter entered the field and started picking fights with opposition players. Yet it was Adam Jones who tried to push him off that generated another penalty against the Bengals. Both penalties advanced the ball by 30 yards to give the Pittsburgh Steelers excellent field position to kick a field goal and win the game.
#2 - Chicago Bears versus St. Louis Cardinals, 1986
This throwback brawl did not even happen in the regular or postseason. The Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Cardinals got into an almighty melee in the preseason in 1986. In what should have been a meaningless game, the current Chicago franchise squared up with the past franchise and in the third quarter a brawl broke out involving pretty much every player.
One Chicago player was ejected along with three St. Louis players. NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle fined 51 players for the incident.
#1 - Kansas City Chiefs versus Oakland Raiders, 1970
We finish our list of brawls with one that defines a rivalry. In 1970, Len Dawson of the Kansas City Chiefs went down on his own after a first down to run out the clock. Raiders lineman Ben Davidson speared him with his helmet to spark the brawl.
It led to the play being called back by the referees and on the ensuing play, the Raiders got a stop and went on to tie the game on their way to the AFC title.
