Ben Roethlisberger isn’t the first person to accuse the New England Patriots of cheating, but it’s still a big deal that he did it.
On his “Footbahlin” YouTube show, Roethlisberger and former teammate Jerome Bettis were discussing the Steelers’ loss to the Patriots in the AFC title game in Big Ben’s rookie season.
“To be fair, the Patriots cheated,” Roethlisberger said, with Bettis agreeing with him. The Hall of Fame running back went on to describe an instance of New England apparently knowing the Steelers’ hand signals and stopping them on a critical fourth down.
Big Ben and Jerome Bettis on playing the Patriots in the 2004 AFC Championship Game:
Ben: “To be fair the Patriots cheated.”
Jerome: “For Sure they did.”#steelers
🎥YT/ Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger@_BigBen7 pic.twitter.com/m9G5Oe0qR6
— Matthew Luciow (@matthewluciow92) September 25, 2023
Roethlisberger and Bettis’ comments sparked plenty of commentary on social media.
“LMFAO relitigating a game you lost by 14 at home. Be bigger babies,” said one person.
LMFAO relitigating a game you lost by 14 at home. Be bigger babies https://t.co/8qabCx130F
— master_chief_2.0 (@ChiefTwopointoh) September 26, 2023
“Went through all the play-by-play for the 2004 game and Jerome is rather mixing up a game or miss remembering the sequence of events. so far I see two plays that could match his description of what happened….” said another person.
Went through all the play-by-play for the 2004 game and Jerome is rather mixing up a game or miss remembering the sequence of events. so far I see two plays that could match his description of what happened…. https://t.co/XaPuUZE0e0
— Antonio Pelullo (@AntonioPelullo) September 26, 2023
“It’s pretty cool that any team that failed/sucked in the last 20 years can just deflect and say they lost because the Patriots cheated and people just eat it up without question,” a third person chimed in.
It’s pretty cool that any team that failed/sucked in the last 20 years can just deflect and say they lost because the patriots cheated and people just eat it up without question. https://t.co/YG578Ftlc6
— dillon (@coincidendill) September 26, 2023
“Is that cheating or is that watching film on your opponent and learning what they do? Just cause y’all don’t watch film as closely doesn’t mean it’s cheating,” another man chimed in.
Is that cheating or is that watching film on your opponent and learning what they do? Just cause y’all don’t watch film as closely doesn’t mean it’s cheating https://t.co/VhI8gFsfsW
— Spaceboy Rich (@Swaby97) September 26, 2023
“Cheating @$$ Patriots!!!! Everybody and they momma knows they’re cheaters,” a fifth person said.
Cheating @$$ Patriots!!!! Everybody and they momma knows they’re cheaters. https://t.co/pyJg5g0RI0
— Aj Bjork (@TulareBoy_4991) September 26, 2023
Whether the Patriots cheated or not, Bettis and Roethlisberger shook off their defeat and won the Super Bowl the following season.