Here’s a thought experiment. Imagine, if you will, a world in which the Pittsburgh Steelers can actually make it through an entire season at full strength on their 53-man roster, not burdened by significant injuries and suspensions, as has been all too frequently the case in their recent history—for the better part of the past decade.
Injuries and suspensions have sorely hindered Pittsburgh’s efforts to claim another Lombardi trophy, which would be their first since their record sixth in 2008. They returned to the Super Bowl in 2010, but lost—in a game in which they had a number of injuries.