I am at a loss for words on how the season ended for the Cincinnati Bengals. The team played in one of the most brutal playoff games in the history of the NFL, and it was one of the more difficult games to watch of the 2015 NFL season for Bengals fans. When all was said and done, the Bengals lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 18-16, and if the team is going to choose a scapegoat, they should definitely point to Vontaze Burfict.

There is no denying that Burfict is a terrific linebacker, and his excellence was on display for most of the night. In fact, it looked like he had a game-winning interception at one point before a Jeremy Hill fumble changed things for the team. However, for all the heroic moments that Burfict provided during the night, he made one inexcusable, boneheaded play that ultimately cost his team the game.

The Steelers were driving late in the game, down a single point with 28 seconds left when Ben Roethlisberger threw a pass over the middle intended for Antonio Brown. The ball was not likely to be caught, but Burfict came screaming across the middle on the play and put an absolutely brutal hit on Brown. Burfict was flagged for the play and Brown looked to be banged up.

The 15-yard penalty put the Steelers into field goal range for Chris Boswell before Adam Jones notched a second personal foul call to move it even closer. Jones was attempting to defend Burfict, and he would not have been put in that situation if it Burfict had not made the hit.

Burfict is no stranger to controversy. In college, Burfict reportedly gave very little effort during his final season at Arizona State, and he went undrafted because of those concerns. During his NFL career, Burfict has been fined numerous times and has been accused of attempting to injure players. Notably, Carolina Panthers tight end Greg Olsen accused Burfict of targeting him and Cam Newton during a game in 2014.

This season, Ben Roethlisberger accused Burfict of trying to hurt him as well, saying that Burfict was going for his ankles during their matchup in December. Burfict also knocked out Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell earlier in the season, making a tackle that tore the star running back’s MCL. Those are just a few of the many questionable hits Burfict has made throughout his career.

After costing the Bengals their first postseason win in 25 years, the team may be fed up with Burfict’s behavior. Head coach Marvin Lewis had warned Burfict about getting too emotional on the field, and this offense may have been the final straw for the team.

The Bengals need to look into trading or cutting Burfict despite his solid play and relatively cheap contract. As good of a player as he is, the team cannot afford to keep sacrificing wins because of mistakes he makes. Besides, the team has some young talent at the position in Paul Dawson, and they could add an upgrade in the 2016 NFL Draft, which happens to be pretty deep at linebacker.

Burfict sealed his legacy as the man who cost Cincinnati a playoff victory after Saturday night’s game. It is highly likely that he will continue to commit bad penalties on the field if he stays with the Bengals, and at this point, a change of scenery may be best for the star linebacker.