Some fans believe the NFL rigged the game after a contentious penalty against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter of their Thursday night loss to the New England Patriots.
After Patriots quarterback Bailey Zappe put New England up big in the first half with three touchdown passes, the Steelers mounted a valiant second-half comeback to bring the game within three points late in the fourth quarter. With roughly five minutes remaining in the game, a crucial offsides penalty damaged the Steelers’ chances of tying or winning.
On a fourth and three play, a Patriots defender was seen in the replay jumping offside. Had there been an offside call against the Patriots, the Steelers would have been awarded a much-needed first down. But because his head moved, officials called Steelers long snapper Christian Kuntz for jumping offside.
The TNF broadcast provided an explanation for why the Steelers’ late false start on fourth down in the fourth quarter should have been offsides against the Patriots, giving the team a first down.
Kuntz’s movement was described by the commentators calling the game as typical for a long snapper on a punt play.
After the game, Steelers supporters lost their minds on social media. Here are the greatest quotes from Steelers supporters who claimed that Thursday night’s game was “rigged.”
