 However, Dalton broke his thumb in week 14 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.Backup AJ McCarron was serviceable, leading the team to finish at 12–4 and clinched the AFC North title for the second time in three seasons.The Bengals were set to win their first playoff game since the 1980s against the Steelers in the Wild Card round, but linebacker Vontaze Burfict inflicted a helmet-to-helmet hit on Steelers receiver Antonio Brown in the waning seconds of the game, drawing a personal foul penalty.