(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
One thing was clear after watching the Chiefs' thrilling 42-36 win over the Bills in overtime on Sunday night in the divisional round game ... The Steelers are not even on the same planet as the Chiefs and Bills. They have two young star quarterbacks in Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen. Generational talents ... And the Steelers have Mason Rudolph.
The duel between the Chiefs and Bills was one of the best playoff games in NFL history. Mahomes and Allen put on a clinic. In the final two minutes, Mahomes completed 10-of-13 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns. Allen completed 5-of-7 passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns. I mean, look at this play by Allen on the two-point attempt. He looked like a young Ben Roethlisberger.
According to ESPN Stats & Info, the 25 combined points scored were the second-most in the last two minutes of regulation of any game (regular season or postseason) in the Super Bowl era.
It was a historic game, and incredibly entertaining. Nothing like watching a Matt Canada offense with a non-mobile 39-year-old Roethlisberger.
Along with Mahomes and Allen, Joe Burrow and Justin Herbert are also two young stud quarterbacks in the AFC. Burrow will square off with Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game. I mean, the Steelers are just so far off right now. They need a young elite quarterback in the worst way. They don't grow on trees, however. It takes exceptional scouting, but more than anything, being in the right place and the right time. Along with some luck. That's what happened to the Steelers when Roethlisberger fell into their lap at 11th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft.
The Steelers have top-level talent on defense with T.J. Watt, Cam Heyward, and Minkah Fitzpatrick. Najee Harris had an outstanding rookie year, and Diontae Johnson has a ton of potential, but he has to be more consistent. The Steelers have some pieces, but they still need to bolster their offensive line, get a speedy wide receiver, a No. 1 cornerback, and an upgrade at inside linebacker. They'll go nowhere without an elite quarterback, however. And I'm talking about Super Bowls. Not just making the playoffs and being one-and-done.
While the Steelers are way behind the Chiefs and Bills, they're in the same boat with a lot of teams. This tweet by Gregg Rosenthal summed it up perfectly.