2014 NFL Playoffs: Each Teams Key Player
By Evan Massey
Pittsburgh Steelers, Le’Veon Bell
The Pittsburgh Steelers were able to come away with a big 27-17 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals during last night’s edition of Sunday Night Football. Le’Veon Bell busted onto the scene this year as one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he will be the key for the Steelers’ Super Bowl hopes.
Not many teams showed the ability to slow him down during the regular season, and he ran over them for 1,361 yards and eight touchdowns on 290 carries. He took a major load of pressure off of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s shoulders, and helped the Pittsburgh offense finally reach its full potential. Bell is going to be a workhorse in the playoffs as well, and has shown the ability to come through clutch in big games.
Bell is going to receive a lot of attention from opposing defenses, but he is a tenacious runner and fierce competitor. There is some concern about the hyperextended knee injury that he suffered against Cincinnati, however, as the playoffs are about to begin.
Pittsburgh isn’t capable of winning without their star running back coming through for them, and they’ll need him against the better teams in the AFC. You can expect to see heavy dosages of Bell throughout the playoffs, and will have to be a top performer every game for the Steelers to continue moving forward.
Next: Indianapolis Colts, T.Y. Hilton