Steelers fans, with training camp still a few days away, decided to ask a question Pittsburgh fans have been wondering for 25 years on Monday. Would the '94 "Blitzburgh" Steelers had defeated Steve Young and the 49ers had in Super Bowl XXIX had Pittsburgh defeated the Chargers in the AFC Championship Game?
As the question continued to be debated into the afternoon, my immediate reaction was no. Pittsburgh, as good as they were that season, weren't stopping Young from his year-long mission of capturing his first championship as a starting NFL quarterback.
The Steelers' defense in 1994 was certainly good enough to deliver the fifth Vince Lombardi Trophy to Pittsburgh. That season, the Steelers allowed just 14.6 points and 90.7 rush yards per game. They also recorded 3.44 sacks per game, thus earning them their "Blitzburgh" moniker. The unit was spearheaded by linebackers Greg Lloyd and Kevin Greene. Lloyd was in the middle of his run of five constructive Pro Bowl selections, while Greene, inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016, paced Pittsburgh with 14.0 sacks that season while earning All-Pro honors
Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson returned two of his four interceptions for touchdowns that seasons while also earning All-Pro honors. Fellow defensive back Carnell Lake, arguably Pittsburgh's most underrated player during that era, earned his first of four consecutive Pro Bowl selections that season.
As dominant as Pittsburgh's defense was that season, it takes a complete team - and a certain type of quarterback - to win a Super Bowl. Unfortunately for the '94 Steelers, their offense - specifically their quarterback - wouldn't have been good enough to beat a team as deep and as talented as San Francisco.
The Steelers' offense averaged just under 20 points per game in 1994. The 49ers' offense, historically one of the best in league history, paced the league with an average of 31.6 points per game that season. San Francisco's defense was also formidable, finishing sixth in the league in scoring defense after allowing an average of just 18.5 points per game during the regular season.
Along with having the league's MVP in Young, the 49ers also possessed the league's Defensive Player of the Year in Deion Sanders, who returned three of his six interceptions that season for scores. Along with Hall of Famers Young and Sanders, San Francisco's roster also included versatile running back Ricky Watters and Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, widely regarded as the greatest receiver in league history. While he was 32 that the time, Rice was still very much in his prime, catching 112 passes for 1,499 yards and 13 touchdowns during the '94 regular season.
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