CINCINNATI - Chad Johnson tucked the "Terrible Towel" into the neckline of his shirt, letting it hang like a yellow bib.

"I was eating lunch and I just didn't want to get my shirt dirty," he said mischievously.

No, the least-bashful Bengal wasn't getting ready to bash the next opponent; he's grown beyond that. But the receiver did have a little tease Wednesday for those thousands of fans who will show up Sunday waving their towels in Pittsburgh.

He's planning to entertain them with his best touchdown celebration yet.

"That is the Steel City, isn't it?" Johnson said. "The first time we played them, we all know we lost. We had some mistakes that we made early in the game. As far as I'm concerned, we have some things to iron out."

In a tone that amounted to a wink, he continued: "The key word is: iron out. Everybody remember the key word: iron."

Heading into what amounts to a showdown for the AFC North title, Johnson isn't deviating from his routine of having a little fun with the next opponent. The higher the stakes, the bigger the stage, after all.

Johnson added the "Terrible Towel" to his locker following a 42-29 victory Sunday over Baltimore, and made sure to pull it out and tuck it in when the cameras approached Wednesday.

Nothing against Pittsburgh.

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"The fans actually love me on the road, which is a good thing," said Johnson, who has celebrated touchdowns with season with a Riverdance, CPR on the football, a sideline proposal to a cheerleader and an end zone putt with a pylon. "So, I'm doing something right.

"Pittsburgh, I'm coming to your town this week and I love you. I've got some things to iron out in the Steel City."

Johnson had four catches for 94 yards without a touchdown -- no chance to celebrate -- during the Steelers' 27-13 win at Paul Brown Stadium on Oct. 23. Still, he decided that the Steelers had failed to cover him, and checked the "no" box on his who-covered-me checklist for the season.

He praised the Steelers' players and coaches on Wednesday, and conceded that the Bengals need to beat them for their self-confidence as well as their playoff chances. They've lost to Jacksonville, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis, the three best teams on their schedule so far.

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"As far as the rest of the schedule, I don't see any teams that would put us in that mold of 'We are the real deal,' " Johnson said. "Until we beat somebody who has been consistently winning like they have."

Until then, all he can do is have some fun.

"I don't like everybody to think about it being a big game," he said, grinning. "It's just another team in the way of what we're trying to accomplish, and that's getting to the playoffs.

"And, therefore, I'm going to guarantee ... that I won't be stopped this Sunday, either."