Ben Roethlisberger, Jerome Bettis accuse Patriots of cheating during 2004 AFC title game win over Steelers

We’ll by no means understand how a lot Spygate helped the Patriots win their 3 Super Bowls during the early 2000s. But a number of distinguished individuals of the Steelers during that generation really feel that it performed a significant position within the results of two AFC title video games. 

Former Steelers Joey Porter and Hines Ward have in the past shared how they really feel Spygate impacted the ones video games, that have been each received via New England. This week, former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Hall of Fame operating again Jerome Bettis reignited the dialog. The matter used to be broached after Bettis recalled his preliminary ideas when then-rookie Roethlisberger vowed during the general seconds of Pittsburgh’s 2004 title game loss to New England that he would get Bettis to the next 12 months’s Super Bowl if he did not retire. 

“If your ass hadn’t thrown two interceptions, we would be within the Super Bowl!,” Bettis recalled whilst giggling during his look on Roethlisberger’s podcast.   

“To be fair, the Patriots cheated,” Roethlisberger mentioned in go back. 

“For sure they did,” Bettis mentioned. “There’s not even a question in my mind.”

Bettis then equipped an instance of the Patriots’ alleged cheating. It befell on a pivotal fourth-and-1 play with the Patriots forward 3-0 halfway during the first quarter. After 3rd down, Bettis mentioned that the Patriots referred to as a timeout once they noticed the Steelers’ hand sign from their sideline. Bettis mentioned that the Patriots knew the which means of the sign, which used to be a counter run. 

After calling the timeout, Bettis spotted that nostril take on Ted Washington went again to the Patriots’ sideline, which additional added to his trust that New England knew Pittsburgh’s alerts. 

“Who normally goes to the sideline on a timeout? The defensive tackles right? They told the nose guard, Washington, they pulled him to the sideline,” Bettis mentioned. “Big 400-pound guy, he doesn’t wanna go the sideline and go all the way back. What does he want to go to the sideline for? They’re yelling, making him go the sideline and come back. 

“Then, we run the play, he loops into the opening, Washington does, they forestall us on fourth down. That’s a crucial play within the game. They had our indicators, and so they referred to as a timeout to get them able for that play as a result of they knew it used to be coming. No query in my thoughts. I take note vividly, I assumed, ‘Why is that this giant dude going to the sideline?’ But I’m now not mad about that.” 

As Bettis alluded to, the Patriots filled the play, then capitalized at the forestall one play later when Tom Brady hit Deion Branch for a 60-yard rating. The lead swelled to 24-3 sooner than the Steelers started a modest comeback that in the long run fell quick. New England received 41-27, then effectively defended its title with a 24-21 win over the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX.  

Bettis in the long run selected to go back in 2005, and he used to be rewarded after Roethlisberger made excellent on his promise to get him to a Super Bowl. Bettis then retired at the podium after the Steelers defeated the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL. 

Despite that win, Bettis is obviously nonetheless miffed via the Patriots and the position that Spygate could have performed in two of his 3 AFC title game losses. While we do not understand how a lot it impacted the 2004 title game, a 2015 story by ESPN printed that handwritten diagrams of Steelers hand alerts from the 2001 season had been found out within Patriots headquarters during the NFL’s 2007 investigation that led to primary fines in addition to a loss of a first-round draft pick out. 

That is more than likely why a number of distinguished Steelers are nonetheless wondering the legitimacy of the results in the ones video games. Conversely, former Steelers trainer and 2020 Hall of Fame inductee Bill Cowher does now not use Spygate as an excuse for his group arising quick in the ones video games. 

“It’s only cheating if you get caught,” Cowher mentioned in a 2021 interview with The Athletic. “Like any player, if you’re going to hold him, don’t get caught. If you get caught, you’re wrong, if you don’t, you’re right. I always thought we never lost the games to New England because of Spygate. If [Bill Belichick] got the calls because we didn’t do a very good job of making sure we signaled those in, that’s on us, it’s not on him. Because we’re always looking for competitive edges. 

“I feel as any trainer whether or not it is anyone’s stance, anyone’s break up, anyone’s formation. You’re taking a look at anyone’s eyes, how are they popping out of a huddle? You’re at all times searching for the ones little issues that come up with a aggressive edge and that to me is what that used to be.”