There could be an unlikely rivalry brewing in the AFC. The Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers have been rivals for decades, but there's apparently some bad blood between players from each team.
Recently, second-year offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson revealed that he's eyeing his next matchup with Pro Bowl defensive lineman Cameron Heyward.
"I'd say playing against Cam Heyward and giving up my first sack-ever, in my entire life," Powers-Johnson said on a recent episode of "The Rush." "I would have to say that. He didn't beat me, I beat myself. I beat myself, I overset. And he got me, and said some choice words after, and I really hope he comes back for another year. That's all I'm gonna say."
Heyward has been in the NFL for 14 years, and he's faced hundreds of offensive linemen. He had a chance to respond to Powers-Johnson and suggested that he beat him more than once.
"Hey man, I was close a lot of times. I just, you know, I delivered the baby at that moment," Heyward said on the "Not Just Football" podcast. "I don't remember what I said. You know, I tend to black out in those moments, but that wasn't the only time he got beat. I'm gonna be honest."
Heyward is an interesting player for Powers-Johnson to start beef with. He's very likely going to be a Hall of Famer one day and is still one of the best defensive linemen in the NFL. The 2025 season will be the first time since 2020 that the Raiders and Steelers don't play in the regular season, so it could be a while before Heyward and Powers-Johnson get another shot at each other.
