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Roethlisberger: Steelers 'like the little brother trying to keep up' with Patriots

Stew Milne / USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Steelers fell flat against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, and now they have to watch the Super Bowl from home.

In an interview on Kentucky basketball coach John Calipari's podcast, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shared his perspective on this season's AFC champions.

"I'd say there's more respect than a hatred," Roethlisberger said. "There's divisional hatred, Baltimore and us, Cincinnati and us, but I don't think there's a hatred there. We've played them now twice in my 13 years in the championship game, my rookie year and this year.

"Obviously, they've gotten the better of us twice in the championship game and kind of had our number, so we're like the little brother trying to keep up with the big brother in a sense."

The Patriots are despised by many fan bases, largely because of the prolonged success they've enjoyed this century, but perhaps Roethlisberger's words indicate NFL players don't see them the same way.

The Patriots have had the Steelers' number since Roethlisberger entered the NFL, winning 7-of-10 contests including two AFC title games. With Tom Brady now 39 years old and Roethlisberger, 34, hinting at retirement earlier this offseason, the "little brother" might be running out of time to get one up on his older sibling.

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