Aaron Doster- USA TODAY Sports
Last season, Le’Veon Bell established himself as one of the top running backs and offensive players in the NFL. In his first full year in the league, the second year back from Michigan State finished second in the league in rushing yards with 1,361, led all running backs in reception (83) and receiving yards (854), and tied Walter Payton‘s record of consecutive games with over 200 yards from scrimmage with three. However, prior to his breakout season, Bell and current Patriots’ running back LeGarrette Blount were arrested for possession of marijuana. The arrest led the NFL office to suspend Bell for three games and Blount for one, leaving the black and gold without one of their best players for a season in which their schedule does not leave space for slip ups.
Pittsburgh opens their season on Thursday night, facing the New England Patriots for the inaugural game of the season. When I first saw the schedule, I was disappointed to see New England. Then this offseason, with the loss of Darrelle Revis, Vince Wilfork, and Brandon Browner on defense, as well as the suspension to Tom Brady and LeGarrette Blount on offense, I started to feel better about the Steelers facing the Patriots. The Pats roster has been gutted and Pittsburgh gets first crack at them. They have been given a hanging slider and I expect them to hit it in the upper deck.
Following the first game, Pittsburgh comes home after a ten-day rest to face the San Francisco 49ers. Like New England, the 49ers roster has been gutted, mostly from retirements and free agency. With rest, the home-field advantage, as well as getting a team adjusting to itself, this would be the only game that I’d be surprised to see a Pittsburgh defeat. The next game against the St.Louis Rams, would be the biggest surprise to see a Pittsburgh victory. St. Louis’ defense now has a competent quarterback in Nick Foles to match the weapons they have on offense. The Rams are going to establish themselves as a legitimate threat in the NFC, and a Steelers team without Bell probably will not be able to muster the points against an elite defense.
Barring a successful appeal, Bell’s first game of the season will be a national televised Thursday night game against division rivals Baltimore Ravens. As a player, Bell has the skills, as well as the right system, to become the best back in the league if he is not it already. He needs to remember though that if he wishes to achieve a long-term and lucrative deal with the Steelers, he has to show the Rooney organization that the incident was just a one-time deal.
Daniel Johnson is a Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer for Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @Dan_Johnson43, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
