Super Bowls that could have been for the Steelers but did not happen
By Eric Hassel
The Steelers could have started the dynasty in 1972
In 1972, the Steelers played the Miami Dolphins in the AFC Championship game. We lost by 4 points to the unbeaten Dolphins, who went on to beat the Washington Redskins in the Super Bowl. Had the Steelers defeated the Dolphins to play in the first Super Bowl in team history, I don’t think we would have lost.
The Steelers would have secured their first Super Bowl victory in team history and would have set the stage for the dynasty to commence two years before its actual commencement. So, we would have had at least one more Super Bowl win for the ‘STEEL CURTAIN’.
In 1976, the Steelers played their nemesis of the 1970s in the AFC Championship game. We lost to the Oakland Raiders by 17 points, primarily because our two starting RBs did not play in that game. Had the Steelers been able to run the ball, we would have probably won.
Instead, the Raiders won and went on to beat the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl. I dare say the fact that we beat the Vikings after the 1974 season to win our first Super Bowl would have bode well for a second Super Bowl victory over the Vikings. So my tally is two more Super Victories for the Steelers dynasty of the 1970s.
Let’s continue to look at the Super Bowl appearances that could have been.