Just as everyone predicted, the 2020 postseason saw the Pittsburgh Steelers getting manhandled by the Cleveland Browns on Wild Card Weekend, the Browns giving the Kansas City Chiefs a run for their money (but losing 22-17), the Chiefs laying a beatdown on the Buffalo Bills, and Tom Brady leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their second Super Bowl victory (his seventh) in a systematic dismantling of the Chiefs offense and defense.
Right.
These playoffs held more twists and turns than an episode of Westworld; and though most people were anticipating Patrick Mahomes to be the quarterback lifting the Lombardi trophy at the end of it all, he completed only 53.1% of his passes for 270 yards, amassing 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. His longest pass of the game was only 33 yards, and he was sacked 3 times.
On the other side of the field, Brady completed 72.4% of his passes, averaging 6.9 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. His longest pass of the game was even shorter than Mahomes' at 31 yards and he was sacked once.
Brady didn't boast overwhelming Super Bowl MVP numbers (and let's be honest, any other quarterback to put up the likes of them probably wouldn't have been named MVP), but he was given the title nonetheless.
Mahomes failed to put up numbers that resembled anything like his MVP-caliber season would imply he should (though he did make some pretty incredible throws in the middle of falling over).
Besides the touchdowns and interceptions, their numbers were not that different. And, to be fair, Brady tossed 3 interceptions himself in the NFC Championship game. And the Bucs still won.
What's the point here? And what does this mean for the Steelers' future?
Quarterbacks alone don't win games.
They don't lose them alone, either.
The Buccaneers were able to defeat a loaded Chiefs team because Tom Brady had a line that allowed him the time he needed to make short passes - and created holes for running back Leonard Fournette to average 5.6 yards per carry, run for 89 yards, and in for 1 touchdown. They were able to shut down Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire with a defense fronted by Devin White, Lavonte David, Jordan Whitehead, Antoine Winfield Jr., and Jason Pierre-Paul.
Brady won the MVP. But it took the whole team to win the Super Bowl.
The Steelers' aging quarterback struggled in the latter half of the season. But not because of his age.
Much like Mahomes, Ben Roethlisberger struggled because his team had no such offensive line to give him time to throw the short passes he found such success with in the first 10 games. The line was unable to create holes for any running back (James Conner, Benny Snell, Anthony McFarland) to average over 5 yards per carry. His receivers dropped pass after pass after pass. The defense crumbled late, due to injuries and fatigue.
The team failed to put together anything that resembled a productive run at a championship.
But let's not pretend like the issues that surfaced are unique to them.
They're the same issues that brought down the then-defending-champion Chiefs. And the lack of those issues were what propelled the Bucs to defeat them. The Steelers fell far short of the ultimate goal. But they're only a few missing pieces away from seriously contending next year.
Though the Super Bowl matchup was boring, it was insi ghtful.
Filling in the gaps on the offensive line. A dependable running back. Consistency in the receiving core. Guys returning from injury. It all sounds insurmountable.
But the Tampa Bay Buccaneers built a championship team in a matter of moments.
The historic Pittsburgh Steelers franchise certainly can, too.
#SteelerNation
