3 ways the NFL will change if Steelers win the Super Bowl
With the Patriots, Packers, and Cowboys threatening their all-time record, the "Killer B's" score enough points to extend the Steelers' Super Bowl tally to seven Lombardi Trophies. Antonio Brown sheds the "selfish" label after his infamous locker-room live stream as Ben Roethlisberger joins the ranks of Troy Aikman, Joe Montana, Tom Brady, and Terry Bradshaw as the only three-time Super Bowl winning quarterbacks.
As the rest of the NFL continues the copy-cat trend of following Super Bowl winners, the league will change - for better or for worse. Here are three ways that might happen:
Patience valued at running back
Le'Veon Bell may not be the exact equivalent to the NBA's Steph Curry, but his patience will finally get the respect it deserves. Bell has been using his style since high school despite coaches telling him not to; Mike Tomlin being the first to commend him for it.
Instead of hitting the hole at top speed, running backs will take to Bell's approach, letting blockers get out in front and hit their assignments before exploding down field.
Bell has also proved to be a dangerous receiving weapon, racking up an average of 157 scrimmage yards per game this season and teasing a down-the-road move to receiver. David Johnson's all-purpose success with the Cardinals will help teams realize an all-around back is the wave of the future.
Combing youth with veteran wisdom
The Steelers' defense had drifted from the days of the Steel Curtain in recent years, becoming a liability to the fast-paced offense, but Pittsburgh appears to have found a solution mixing youth with age.
The once-great linebacking corps is again a strength of the unit, teaming 38-year-old James Harrison (the team's 2016 sack leader) and 30-year-old Lawrence Timmons with recent first-round picks Ryan Shazier (15th overall in 2014) and Bud Dupree (22nd overall in 2015). In the secondary, a pair of rookies - cornerback Artie Burns and safety Sean Davis - started the majority of the season alongside eight-year veteran Mike Mitchell and Steelers' 2007 draft pick William Gay. The combination of Bell and DeAngelo Williams, the oldest running back in the league, has also paid off nicely.
Merging veteran instincts and experience with young athletic ability and enthusiasm has worked well enough to allow under 30 combined points through two playoff rounds and keep opponents from topping 20 points 11 times this season.
More offensive triplets
Since the days of Aikman, Emmitt Smith, and Michael Irvin dominating the NFL, offenses have decided to spread out their talent and money among the entire unit. The Steelers' offense is one of the league's most feared despite having just three solid staples - Roethlisberger, Bell, and Brown.
Instead of searching for a stable of talented receivers or a deep backfield, finding a set of stars to carry the load while using a supporting cast of good-not-great weapons will become the way to go. As long as Bell and Brown are hitting their numbers, all it takes is one or two of the background players to make a play here and there to keep this offense chugging along.
There aren't enough star offensive playmakers for every team to jump on board, but the temptation of having multiple players who are arguably the best at their position will become even more enticing. Potential superstar running back prospects Leonard Fournette and Dalvin Cook could go at a higher position than expected, especially after the success found by Ezekiel Elliott and the Cowboys.