#DeflateGate refers to the 2014-2015 NFL scandal involving allegations that the New England Patriots used under-inflated footballs to gain an advantage during their AFC Championship game against the Indianapolis Colts. The controversy, which centered on star quarterback Tom Brady, became a massive media sensation and a staple of internet culture. Memes typically feature Brady looking suspicious, footballs appearing noticeably flat, or jokes about the physics of the Ideal Gas Law. It has evolved beyond football to represent any situation where someone is accused of 'deflating' the competition through questionable means or technical loopholes.