Matchup: Le’Veon Bell vs. Patriots linebackers
The Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the New England Patriots in December at Heinz Field couldn’t be any more exciting. That the Steelers have a healthy Le’Veon Bell heading into their final stretch of the 2017 regular season gives this weekend’s game an extra boost since Bell has put together solid performances and enters the game as the league’s top running back. Bell presents a unique challenge; the Patriots did not face another back in 2017 that is as qualified as a primary receiver. There have been several games where Bell could have been lined up to catch passes from Ben Roethlisberger instead of pounding the rock, which puts a struggling Patriots linebacker corps on notice.
Ringing the Bell
Not to be humorous (even though the photo perfectly illustrates just that), but Bell literally took his seat on the rushing throne against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14. Bell didn’t just put on a rushing clinic but was pivotal in the win by providing the Steelers another option in the passing game. On 13 carries, Bell gained 48 yards (3.7-yard average, two 11-yard longest gains) and two touchdowns. He added nine receptions for 77 yards (8.6 average) and another touchdown.
Bell enters the game with the Patriots with 1105 rushing yards; 59 more yards than the number two rusher, Kareem Hunt of the Kansas City Chiefs. The only other running backs in the league to have more receiving yards than Bell (75 for 579 yards) are Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints (62 for 639 yards) and Todd Gurley of the Los Angeles Rams (51 for 602 yards). Bell has two receiving touchdowns to Kamara’s four and Gurley’s three.
Last season, in the AFC title game against the Patriots, Bell rushed for 20 yards on six carries and was forced out due to a groin injury. Leading up the match, Bell set a single-game record in rushing (regular season) with 236 yards, averaging 157 yards from scrimmage. Having to watch the remainder of the New England game from the sideline was an unhappy moment for Bell. “It was a terrible feeling having to watch my guys go to work,” Bell said in an interview. “It’s the No. 1 and 2 teams in the AFC going at it head-to-head [this weekend] … I’ll definitely embrace the game. The Patriots are the team that’s always in the hunt for the Super Bowl.” Bell added that he wants to make sure that, when the opportunity arises, he is making a play for his team.
https://twitter.com/steelers/status/941323415738130432
Linebacker a thin area for Patriots defense
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick is well aware that the depth of his linebacker squad is thin. He watched Hunt gash his defense for 148 yards on 17 carries (one touchdown) and hurt them with an additional five receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Last week, the Patriots allowed Kenyan Drake of the Miami Dolphins to grind out 114 yards in 25 carries and grab five receptions for 79 yards.
What. A. Catch!
Drake with the 47-yard reception! #NEvsMIA https://t.co/XwprzhyJ5s
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) December 12, 2017
One of the reasons Drake had success was that Jay Cutler took advantage in passing situations where the Patriots opted to drop a linebacker into coverage. Like I said in my scouting report on the Patriots this week, Marquis Flowers, Trevor Reilly, and Elandon Roberts have not stepped up as backups to stop the run or prevent rushers with good hands from creating plays in the open field via the passing game. David Harris has been limited in practice this week due to an ankle issue.
Bell becomes a true dual weapon for the Steelers in this situation. With the Patriots front seven forced to focus their attention on how dangerous he can be in the run game, watch for Todd Haley and the Steelers to open up the playbook for more play-action options and check-down passes to Bell – especially if the Patriots linebackers are also forced to drop into coverage to blanket tight end Jesse James or JuJu Smith-Schuster in the slot. The mid-center of the field could be wide open to ‘Big Ben’ and company.
Bell sets up another big matchup: Brown vs Butler
As the only NFL team to have a 3,000 yard passer, 1,000 yard rusher and 1,000 yard receiver, the Steelers seem to be set up better this year against the Patriots. Maybe it’s time for the media bias surrounding the Patriots to end?
Entering Week 15 of 2017, #Steelers
RB Le'Veon Bell leads the NFL in
Rushing Yards (1,105)
Yards From Scrimmage (1,684)WR Antonio Brown leads the NFL in
Receptions (99)
Receiving Yards (1,509)QB Ben Roethlisberger ranks 2nd in the NFL in
Completions (318)
Pass Yards (3,744)— Dom Rinelli (@drinelli) December 14, 2017
If Pittsburgh can get Bell on track early, in both the rushing and receiving game, putting extra pressure on the Patriots’ linebackers and defensive line, it will open up another big matchup this week: Antonio Brown versus Malcolm Butler. The duo have traditionally gone head-to-head when the two teams have faced each other and this week should prove to be another exciting opportunity for the duo to duel it out on the turf.
