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Vontaze Burfict's illegal hit on Antonio Brown in the AFC Wild Card Round cost the Cincinnati Bengals linebacker three games. According to Pittsburgh Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams, it cost his team way more.

"For me, my rival throughout my year will be the Cincinnati Bengals," Williams told ESPN.com's Jeremy Fowler on Wednesday. "I don't think there was any doubt in my mind if AB was not interfered on or hit the way he was hit, however you want to label it—there's no doubt we go on and give the Broncos hell."

Burfict and Williams proceeded to exchange barbs on Twitter after Williams' comments were released (Warning: NSFW language):

Brown suffered a concussion on an ugly personal-foul shot from Burfict, who struck the Pro Bowl wide receiver's head as he went across the middle on an incomplete pass. Burfict was assessed a 15-yard penalty and subsequently suspended the first three games of 2016 for repeated violations of NFL rules governing illegal hits.

This is a chicken-egg situation. If Brown wouldn't have been injured on Burfict's hit, perhaps the Steelers would have beaten the Denver Broncos. They came within a touchdown while playing on an undermanned offense that didn't have its top two running backs (Le'Veon Bell, Williams) or its top receiver. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was also playing through severe shoulder pain. Put Brown on the field, and maybe Denver's late drive ties the game rather than wins it.

On the other hand, the Steelers would have never been in the divisional round without Burfict's hit. The 30 yards' worth of penalties as a result of that play—Adam Jones also received a 15-yard penalty for taunting Brown—put the Steelers in field-goal range.

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Their drive had been sputtering to that point, filled with short completions that were evaporating time off the clock. Pittsburgh would have been at Cincinnati's 47-yard line with 18 seconds remaining had Burfict not hit Brown. It's not unfeasible that a big play was in the making, but Roethlisberger could barely throw five yards in front of his face at that point.

This is one of those scenarios that probably doesn't merit much analysis. Williams' claim he'll be out for Bengals blood, though? That's far more understandable given the circumstances. He's assuredly not alone.

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.