A NFL analyst thinks former Pittsburgh Steelers head coach could face some hostility on Sunday Night Football.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are set to take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday Night Football this weekend in a game that will have former head coach Mike Tomlin on the sidelines in his new gig with NBC’s Football Night in America.

However, while Tomlin no longer has a dog in the fight, NFL analyst Devin McCourty doesn’t think the Bengals home crowd is going to welcome him into Paycor Stadium with open arms, either.

“I’m excited to see if Mike Tomlin gets booed this week — if people hate him, if they throw something at him,” McCourty said.

Tomlin led the Steelers to a 28-11 all time record against the Bengals, so there may be some animosity from Cincinnati.

However, Tomlin has shown zero bias thus far when breaking down the matchup.

“It’s AFC North football and you know I love that. You can airmail me right to Cincinnati,” Tomlin said. “It’s good on good. Joe Burrow and that Cincinnati passing game vs T.J. Watt and the four-man rush of the Steelers…. Bring your popcorn and get your cameras ready.”

That may not matter to Bengals fans, though, which should only add to the stakes of the matchup.

The game could have major playoff implications. The Steelers enter that game in first place in the AFC North at 6-2 with the tiebreaker over the 6-2 Bengals, and it’s safe to say the winner will become the favorite to be crowned the kings of the North this season.

It also marks the first non-September primetime AFC North matchup between two teams with .750+ win percentages since 1975, according to Pro Grid Sports. The last time it happened was in 1975, between the Steelers and the Houston Oilers in the old AFC Central.

The Steelers and Bengals have split their last two season series, with the Steelers earning the last sweep in the rivalry in 2023. The Steelers last won in Cincinnati in 2024.

So as Tomlin already stated, bring your popcorn and get your cameras ready.