CINCINNATI — Hines Ward was Tyler Boyd’s favorite Steelers player while he grew up in Clairton, Pennsylvania. He loved how No. 86 made the tough catches in the biggest games and helped Pittsburgh win two Super Bowls during his 14 seasons.

“He was my guy,” the Bengals receiver said. “Everything about him was good. He was quick, aggressive, he was smart, just a guy that everyone looked up to in the Pittsburgh area.”

Boyd got to know the Steelers when he went to Pitt, which shares Heinz Field with the Steelers. Instead of being drafted by them in 2016, he wound up going to the rival Cincinnati Bengals, who were looking for a slot receiver to complement A.J. Green.

Boyd immediately redirected his goal toward beating his beloved black-and-gold team. So far, he’s 0-for-4.

The Bengals (4-1) have dropped six straight to the Steelers (2-2-1), a streak that’s the talk of the town as Pittsburgh arrives for a game Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium. Boyd has played in three of the games. All three times, he has walked off the field watching thousands of Steelers fans twirl their Terrible Towels — a scene he once enjoyed.

“I haven’t beaten them once, so that would mean everything to me,” Boyd said. “Just with all my friends and family and fans coming to watch, I can start bragging a little and talk a little noise and stuff.”

So far, there’s been little to talk about.

Boyd had his best game against the Steelers as a rookie. He caught six passes for 78 yards in the second game of the season, a 24-16 loss in his return to Heinz Field. He also had a decisive fumble. He caught a pass at the Pittsburgh 33-yard line and was stripped by James Harrison.