With the results of Super Bowl LVIII in the books, it's safe to say that a dynasty has been established in the AFC. The Kansas City Chiefs have already been to four Super Bowls since Patrick Mahomes became a starter in 2018, and they have gone 3-1 in the biggest game on turf during this span. The Pittsburgh Steelers could only sit and watch from home as witnessed the Chiefs enjoy the spoils of their success once again.
It wasn't that long ago that the Steelers dealt with a different dynasty powerhouse in the AFC. Every year, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots were the teams to get past. Beginning with the 2001 season until their most recent Super Bowl win in 2018, this is a team that Pittsburgh consistently struggled to get by when it mattered most.
Because of their dominance, the Patriots earned six Super Bowl wins with Brady at the helm, while appearing in the big game 9 times -- making them arguably the greatest dynasty in the history of the NFL.
Unfortunately, every other AFC team has been forced to sit back and covet the success of these two powerhouse teams as they watched another replace one historic dynasty. For a team like the Pittsburgh Steelers, this is particularly disheartening.
Steelers fans cannot be encouraged by another Chiefs Super Bowl win
If there was ever a roster good enough to take down Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl, it's the one that Kyle Shanahan constructed in San Francisco. From top to bottom, the 49ers were loaded with All-Pro talent on both sides of the football -- including multiple future Hall of Famers.
In terms of talent, the 49ers had the Chiefs beat easily. However, this is a quarterback-driven league, and the Chiefs have the best in the business. Though he was quiet in the first half, Mahomes eventually turned things on and put up the performance we all know (and have witnessed) that he is capable of -- passing for 333 yards and 2 touchdowns while chipping in 9 carries for 66 yards on the ground.
This impressive run helped the Chiefs to 22 points from the third quarter until the end of overtime. As good as these Kyle Shanahan teams have been with the 49ers, the brilliant offensive-minded head coach routinely winds up just short of the ultimate prize as his quarterbacks have been outplayed by some of the best the NFL has to offer.
That's what makes this so discouraging for Steelers fans. In a perfect world, Art Rooney II and Mike Tomlin would love to model their game after San Francisco. They want to run the ball effectively, control the clock, and play great defense. These are all things the 49ers have done -- and with a vastly more talented team. Yet, even the best Shanahan squads are still winding up short.
If the 49ers can't do it with arguably the most stacked roster we have seen in 25 years, what gives us the confidence to believe the Pittsburgh Steelers can win the Super Bowl with a worse coaching staff and a roster that is half as talented?
Super Bowl LVIII is just the latest reminder that the NFL is a league dominated by star quarterback play, and Patrick Mahomes is as good as they come. After seeing everything that Mahomes has done in just 6 years as a starter, Steelers fans are forced to look ahead to a 2024 season that could see Kenny Pickett under center in Arthur Smith's offense.
Even if the Steelers execute their 'winning' philosophy perfectly, they are still going to be at a gross disadvantage when it comes to quarterback play. I know it's not what anyone wants to hear, but until they can find that guy who can exchange blow for blow with the best quarterbacks the AFC has to offer, this team isn't going to earn their sixth Super Bowl title.