Two legends from the 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers still can’t get over their loss to Tom Brady’s New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game.
Former quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Jerome Bettis accused the Patriots of cheating, specifically on this particular play.
The Hall of Fame Steelers came together on Roethlisberger’s Footbahlin Podcast with Ben Roethlisberger and unanimously agreed that New England cheated in the 2004 AFC Championship Game.
In 2004, the Patriots defeated the Steelers 41-27 and defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.
“Hey, to be fair, the Patriots cheated,” Roethlisberger began.
Betis responded without hesitation: “Of course, they did. It’s not a question in my mind at all.”
During the Patriots’ first Super Bowl appearance in 2001-04, the team was caught spying on other teams’ games in what is now known as “Spygate.”
On the podcast, NFL veterans were discussing Bettis’ retirement when the championship game popped up.
Buss claimed the Patriots owned the Steelers’ team logos and used them to transform the franchise.
In the first quarter of the game, as Bettis and the Steelers faced a crucial fourth-and-4, the former running back claimed it was a set-up.
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The six-time Pro Bowler claimed: “Who usually goes to the sideline during a timeout? The defensive captain, right?
“They told the nose guard … they pulled him to the sideline. Big 400-pound guy, he didn’t want to go to the sideline and come all the way back.
“What is he going to do on the sideline? They’re yelling at him to go to the sideline and I always think ‘What is he going to do…’ He goes all the way to the sideline and back.”
With the Steelers trailing on fourth down, Bettis gave the ball to the Patriots.
On the Patriots’ next play, Brady threw a 60-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Dion Branch, giving the team a 10-0 lead.
The running back continued: “They stopped us on fourth down. That was the key play in the game.
“They had our signs, they called timeouts and got ready for this game because they knew it was coming.
“There was no question in my mind. I remember it clearly because I was like, ‘Why is this big guy going to the sideline?'”