Jason Bridge / USA Today Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers claimed the AFC North with a 27-17 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night, earning the third seed for the playoffs.

The Steelers will be headed to the playoffs for the first time since 2010, but the price was pretty high. Star running back Le’Veon Bell left the game with a hyperextended knee in the third quarter and didn’t return.

After the game, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had some choice words for Bengals free safety Reggie Nelson, whose tackle knocked Bell out of the game.

Tomlin hugged Nelson and seemed to congratulate him on a game well played, but then became increasingly incensed, putting his finger in Nelson’s face and saying some things that didn’t look too congratulatory.

Tensions kept mounting, and eventually, Bengals Coach Marvin Lewis came to break it up.

For reference, this was the hit that put Bell out of commission, which Tomlin agreed after the game was a clean play.

NBC Sports

Tomlin was mum at first on his conversation with Nelson.

But then changed his story to something a little more confusing.