Bengals’ Boyd seeks to end skid in Pittsburgh
The clock is ticking for the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Tyler Boyd to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.
Boyd is one of the Bengals’ oldest and most experienced players, and even he wasn’t on the team the last time it happened in 2015. It’s significant for him because he grew up 25 minutes outside of Heinz Field in Clairton, Pennsylvania, and is one of the best players to ever come out of the University of Pittsburgh.
During spare time at Pitt, Boyd and his close friend, former Steelers running back James Conner, would drive to Heinz Field to watch practice in hopes they would pick up tips on how to be a professional. Boyd got to know Pittsburgh’s longtime head coach Mike Tomlin and several players.
When it came time for the 2016 NFL draft, Boyd knew he was on the Steelers’ radar, but the Bengals took him with the No. 55 overall pick, two picks before the Steelers selected safety Sean Davis.
Since then, Boyd has caught 331 passes for 3,848 yards and 19 touchdowns. He has the experience to anticipate what Sunday will be like.
“I know what the atmosphere is going to be, I know how loud it’s going be,” Boyd said. “If we go in there and quiet that place and win, oh man, (there) probably isn’t going to be a better feeling.”
Both the Bengals and Steelers are coming off disappointing losses in Week 2. It’s expected to be a physical game, as quarterback Joe Burrow pointed out.
“Obviously one of the better teams in the league,” he said, “so we’ve got to put our big boy pants on and be ready to play.”
Now it’s on Boyd, a team captain, to help make that happen.
“I think this is the most athletic team I’ve ever been a part of in terms of the offense, defense to special teams,” said Boyd. “I’ve never felt the energy in a Cincinnati team until now. Not to say the other teams I’ve been a part of weren’t as good, but this team is just so different. This year the guys we have out there now with the defense, I think this is the year.”