ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. _ Le'Veon Bell didn't just enable the Steelers to beat the Buffalo Bills on a windy, snowy Sunday at New Era Field when Ben Roethlisberger threw three interceptions. He didn't just keep his team in control of the AFC North Division with the 27-20 win, its fourth win in a row after a four-game losing streak. He didn't just thoroughly outplay Buffalo's LeSean McCoy in a battle of elite NFL running backs. And he didn't just put his name all over the Steelers record book.
Bell did all of that and more.
"He carried us," Roethlisberger said.
The Steelers see Bell in practice every day and on game days. They are used to his magic. But the Bills? Not so much. Check out this Bell tribute from Buffalo safety Corey Graham.
"He's amazing. There is no other way to look at it. He is definitely, to me, the best running back in the league. I don't think there is any doubt, any question. Patient, like I've never seen any back in my life. Strong, just like the strongest back I've ever seen in my life. He is the real deal, man. He is flat-out amazing."
The weather was horrid, as it often is. But Bell loved it. He woke up Sunday morning thinking he would have a big day.
"I go out there and I know a lot of people are saying, 'It's cold and it's snowing,' and they don't want to play in the snow," Bell said. "That's something that never bothered me."
Mike Tomlin also anticipated a big day from Bell. In a game when he became just the eighth NFL coach to get his 100th win in 10 seasons, he was thrilled to be trumped by his star running back, who had a Steelers-record 236 rushing yards, breaking Willie Parker's 223 yards in 2006 against Cleveland.
"He's a Columbus, Ohio, and East Lansing runner," Tomlin said of Bell's hometown and his college town at Michigan State. "That's one of the things that attracted us to him in the draft process. These environments aren't foreign to him. As a matter of fact, he relishes the opportunity to perform in them."
It's hard to say if Bell was better early in the game or late. He was terrific in the first half with 16 touches for 125 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns. He was sensational in the second half with 26 touches for 173 scrimmage yards and another touchdown. I'm no math major, but I believe that adds up to 42 touches for 298 scrimmage yards, second-most in franchise history behind Antonio Brown's 306 against Oakland last season.
"I just hope he never gets tired," Roethlisberger said.
No worries, Bell said.
"I don't think there are a lot of backs who can do what I do. My work ethic really shows. That's why I condition the way I do in practice, why I condition the way I do in the offseason. I take care of my body. I always eat right. I make sure I'm always good."
Bell didn't know he was so close to 300 scrimmage yards but made it sound as if he wouldn't lobby Tomlin for one more carry late in the game.
"We could have easily went out there and ran the ball and gotten 2 yards. But at the end of the day, I'm satisfied with the win. I'm not going to worry about the stats. I'm just glad I got out of the game healthy and we're going home."
The Steelers left behind a mess in the Bills. Rex Ryan had to answer at least eight questions about his coaching future amid reports that he could be fired this week. Tyrod Taylor almost certainly is out as the quarterback. The Bills are 6-7 and will miss the playoffs for an almost Pirates-like 17th consecutive season. They are 0-6 against the Steelers in that time, losing with six different coaches and six different quarterbacks.
Not even the great McCoy could help the Bills on this day. He finished with 12 carries for 27 yards and a touchdown and six catches for 81 yards, 41 coming late after the game had been decided.
So much for the battle of elite backs.
"It was kind of our will against their will and we got the better of them today," Bell said.
"That's what we needed. It's that time of year," Roethlisberger said.
"We had to win it. It was a game we were supposed to win. That was a good football team. They had their backs to the wall. They had to win. We came in and had to win and we did.
"We can't afford to lose the rest of the way. We just can't. You have to take care of your business. If you do that, you control everything you have to control. That's where you want to be this time of year."
The 8-5 Steelers will be in Cincinnati on Sunday for some AFC North road football against the 5-7-1 Bengals. Do you think Vontaze Burfict and Adam Jones would love to drag the Steelers down to their level of misery? Then, it's home on Christmas Day for a game against the 7-5 Baltimore Ravens that could decide the division title. It's all right there for the Steelers to take.
"Each week, you get more fired up," Bell said. "We know what's at stake. We have no time for setbacks. We can't pat ourselves on the back for a good win or a good performance. There's too much football left to play."
