or Jim Kelly. Interesting to think. Steelers were a joke in the 80s after the roid heads were gone. For much of the 90s they were nothing special. Maybe they would have beat Dallas. They would have had a better chance. During the Bills 4 year run they played Miami twice and Pit once. Would much really have changed? Even in the late 90s the Bills and Dolphins were still going at it minus Kelly, Maybe they beat Denver in 97 in the AFC Title game. NFC dominated the 90s though. The Broncos had the only two titles.
Jim Kelly was drafted 14th overall while Steelers picked 21st overall. The Steelers never had a chance to select Jim Kelly
The Steelers were far from a joke in 80's
1980 = 9-7
1981 = 8-8
1982 = 6-3 (Lost in AFC Wildcard)
1983 = 10-6 (Lost in AFC Divisional)
1984 = 9-7 (Lost in AFC Champ)
1985 = 7-9
1986 = 6-10
1987 = 8-7
1988 = 5-11
1989 = 9-7 (Lost in AFC Divisional)
They were shell of former self but far from a joke
And in 90's they were actually pretty darn good in AFC
1990 = 9-7
1991 = 7-9
1992 = 11-5 (Lost in AFC Divisional)
1993 = 9-7 (Lost in AFC Wildcard)
1994 = 12-4 (Lost in AFC Champ)
1995 = 11-5 (Lost in Super Bowl)
1996 = 10-6 (Lost in AFC Divisional)
1997 = 11-5 (Lost in AFC Champ)
1998 = 7-9
1999 = 6-10
Bills = 112-48
Chiefs = 102-58
Dolphins = 95-65
Broncos = 94-66
Steelers = 93-67
You seem to talk up the Dolphins while discounting the one win less Steelers in AFC of that era. I would also point out the furthest Dolphins of 90's advanced in playoffs was one AFC Champ game a feat the Steelers performed three times during same era while advancing to SB during on of those games
Also in Steelers defense on Marino they had used a 1st round pick on Malone a few years earlier and thought he still had potential after injuries cost him early years