FOXBORO — The last time the Patriots faced the Steelers, the Patriots saw Le’Veon Bell for only 11 snaps in the first quarter.
The running back, who suffered a groin injury that day in the AFC Championship Game, told Pittsburgh reporters last week that he was excited to play the Patriots again.
“I just felt like I missed an opportunity to get to a Super Bowl," Bell said. "When this year came around, we saw the schedules and everything, I knew we had another opportunity if I was healthy. It's good. The opportunity is here."
For the Patriots, containing Bell will be one of their biggest hurdles on Sunday.
Bell leads the NFL in rushing with 1,105 yards. His 75 receptions are good for ninth in the league. That leads all running backs.
“He's really good. He's a tremendous player. He leads the league in yards from scrimmage and that’s about really all you need to know,” Bill Belichick said. “He’s a receiver when he’s out of the backfield. He can run any run you want — inside, outside, runs with power, runs with a lot of skill and quickness in the open field. He’s an excellent receiver in the passing game. A big guy, blitz pickup, matches up well against linebackers and DBs that he has to block. He’s a tremendous player.”
The Patriots have seen Bell only three times and the circumstances weren’t always in the Steelers’ favor. In the AFC Championship Game, Bell rushed for 20 yards on six carries before leaving the game. Last season, in Week 7, Bell rushed for 81 yards on 21 carries and added 10 receptions for 68 yards. The performance was for naught, however, as quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t play. The Patriots won, 27-16.
The only other time the Patriots have faced Bell was during his 2013 rookie season. He rushed for 74 yards in that game, which the Patriots won, 55-31. His lack of success against the Patriots in that game doesn’t have any of the defensive linemen thinking this Sunday will be easy.
“He’s a great player,” Malcom Brown said. “He’s got his own running style. Patient back. Sees good gaps open up. Sets up his open gaps and everything. It’s a good challenge ahead of us. He’s an elusive guy. He’s not one of the premier backs in the league for nothing.”
Bell has been extremely dangerous in the passing game. Over the last three weeks, Bell has finished with 77, 106 and 88 receiving yards. He’s also scored four touchdowns.
Aside from his ability as a receiver, Bell has a unique style of running. Defenders see him run straight up, unlike most backs who run lower. His patience, however, can lead defenders into thinking he’s trapped. Instead, before they know it, Bell hits a hole and has a nice gain.
On Sunday, stopping Bell could mean the difference between the AFC’s No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
“This dude’s patience is incredible,” Adam Butler said. “He’s definitely not somebody to take for granted. He’s the leading rusher in the league right now. That speaks for itself. You have to be aggressive."