Bom.Ben Roethlisberger’s Bold Claim: Why He Says the Browns Game Is the Steelers’ “Second Bye Week” — and Why It Might Backfire

When Ben Roethlisberger speaks, the NFL world listens, and this time, his words are echoing louder than ever across the AFC North. The two-time Super Bowl champion, known for his confidence and swagger, just labeled the Pittsburgh Steelers’ upcoming clash with the Cleveland Browns as their “second bye week.” It’s a statement dripping with arrogance — or maybe, with truth.

Roethlisberger made the remark on his Footbahlin’ podcast, where he discussed the Steelers’ schedule following their impressive victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin. With the team now 3–1 and entering a week of rest before facing Cleveland, Big Ben couldn’t resist taking a jab at their division rivals. “I said it’s our second bye in a row,” he told his cohost, sparking laughter — and outrage.

For Steelers fans, it was vintage Big Ben, the fearless competitor who never hesitated to speak his mind. But for Browns fans, it was a gut punch — a reminder of their painful history of being the AFC North’s underdogs.

And yet, there’s a deeper question hiding beneath the trash talk. Is Roethlisberger just trolling, or is he speaking a hard truth about the Browns’ struggles?

The reality for Cleveland is grim. The team stands at 1–3, tied with Baltimore for the worst record in the division. Two of those losses were humiliating blowouts by 24 points or more. Their offense has sputtered, their quarterback play has been inconsistent, and their chemistry looks fractured. The Browns, once hyped as a dark horse contender, now look like a team searching for its soul.

But even in the rubble, there’s one part of Cleveland that still strikes fear across the league — their defense. Led by the relentless Myles Garrett, last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, the Browns’ defense remains among the NFL’s most aggressive and punishing. Through four weeks, Garrett has been nearly unstoppable, living in opposing backfields and wrecking offensive game plans.

It was that defense that delivered Cleveland’s only victory so far — a gritty 13–10 win over the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. The Browns’ offense may be sputtering, but their defense kept them alive, forcing turnovers and suffocating the run. It wasn’t pretty, but it was enough.

Now, Garrett and his crew will look to do something much more meaningful — make Ben Roethlisberger eat his words.

The Steelers, meanwhile, have momentum. After an uneven start to the season, their offense has shown flashes of balance, with quarterback Kenny Pickett growing more comfortable in the pocket and the young offensive line finally finding rhythm. Against Minnesota, they protected better, ran harder, and looked like a team that’s beginning to believe.

Still, Pittsburgh knows that no AFC North game is ever simple. In this division, records don’t matter. Styles don’t matter. Only the fight matters. The battles between the Steelers and Browns have always been emotional and unpredictable — fueled by years of rivalry, revenge, and pride.

Since Roethlisberger’s retirement, the two teams have split their last six matchups. Each win, each loss, has carried its own chaos — a missed field goal here, a last-minute turnover there. The Steelers have been humbled by a Browns team they thought they’d crush, only to turn around and deliver payback months later.

So for all of Roethlisberger’s confidence, even he knows deep down that nothing in this rivalry is ever guaranteed. His “second bye” comment might be locker-room gold for the Steelers, but it could just as easily serve as bulletin-board fuel for Cleveland.

Imagine the Browns storming into Week 6 with anger in their eyes and Myles Garrett leading a defensive charge that shakes Pittsburgh’s confidence. Imagine the Steelers’ young offense struggling under pressure, the crowd roaring, the game slipping away — all while Roethlisberger watches from afar, realizing his joke just became a headline.

Because that’s the beauty of AFC North football. It’s raw. It’s violent. It’s unpredictable. You can’t script it, and you can’t control it. One minute you’re laughing at your rival — the next, you’re the punchline.

Still, for now, Roethlisberger’s words hang in the air like smoke. “Second bye week.” It’s taunting. It’s cocky. It’s very Ben.

The Steelers will walk into Week 6 with swagger, but the Browns will walk in with a mission — to prove that no one, not even Big Ben himself, can write them off that easily.

And when those two helmets collide on the field, when the first sack lands and the first fumble hits the turf, one thing will become clear — this isn’t a bye week at all. It’s war.

The kind of war that defines the AFC North, silences the talkers, and crowns the fighters.

Because in football, respect isn’t given — it’s taken. And come Week 6, we’ll find out exactly who’s taking it.