The Pittsburgh Steelers rank fourth in the NFL in total offense and fifth in scoring despite the absence of three-time Pro Bowl running back Le'Veon Bell, who is embroiled in a long-running contract dispute with the team.
But Ravens defensive coordinator Don "Wink" Martindale said he is not surprised to learn that Pittsburgh has found success without Bell.
"I think it's like, since 2015, if you look at their stats, there are a lot of stats in different categories that [show] the Steelers are actually better without him, that they're better in those categories since 2015 without Le'Veon," Martindale said before Thursday afternoon's practice. "So that might be why he's riding a jet ski down in Miami right now. I don't know. You can't think about this. What if [Hall of Fame quarterback] Terry Bradshaw wants to come back and [Hall of Fame wide receiver] Lynn Swann? Oh [expletive]."
The Steelers rank 22nd in the league in rushing, but that's no fault of James Conner, who has replaced Bell. Conner ranks third in the league in rushing yards with 599 and is tied for third in total touchdowns among running backs with nine with Los Angeles Chargers' Melvin Gordon and New Orleans Saints' Alvin Kamara. In Sunday's 33-18 victory over the Cleveland Browns, Conner became the first player in franchise history to rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns in three consecutive games.
The Ravens held Conner to 19 yards on nine carries and 25 yards on three receptions in Week 4, but Martindale said no one on the defense is underestimating Conner, who was named Thursday the AFC Offensive Player of the Month.
"He's the same running back [as] the first time we played him," Martindale said. "He's a straight-ahead, no-fair, dodging-type running back that spins on contact, and he's running hard. That's going to be a great challenge for us."
