Oct 18, 2016 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – With quarterback Ben Roethlisberger officially out for the Steelers’ game Sunday at Heinz Field against the New England Patriots after having surgery on the injured meniscus in his left knee, the Steelers figure to lean heavily on their running game.

That suits Le’Veon Bell just fine.

Though he has 48 carries in his first three games back with Pittsburgh (4-2) after serving a three-game suspension to open the season, Bell felt a like a forgotten man in the second half a Pittsburgh’s 30-15 loss Sunday at Miami.

Bell had only two second-half carries against the Dolphins as the Steelers ran the ball just three times in the final two quarters. Miami entered the game last in the NFL in rushing defense, allowing just more than 150 yards per game and Pittsburgh trailed by only one or two scores throughout the second half.

“Sometimes we do get to a point where we’re passing the ball a lot,” said Bell, who led the Steelers with six receptions at Miami.

“I feel like they want to utilize me in the passing game a lot. The offensive line likes running the ball. I like to do what they like to do. When they feel like they can dominate someone up front, I’m always with them.

“If they want to run the ball, we need to run the ball. But I’m not a guy who complains or talks about getting carries. I just want to go out there and win the game, so whatever it takes, whether I have four carries or 34 carries.”

He’ll likely be a lot closer to the latter Sunday against New England (5-1).

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin admitted Tuesday that his team doesn’t want to get into a high-scoring game against the Patriots, who have scored 68 points in the two games since quarterback Tom Brady returned from a four-game suspension for his part in Deflategate.

Backup quarterback Landry Jones will make his third career start for the Steelers. He’s thrown 55 passes and three touchdowns. Brady has 57 completions – in 75 attempts – and six touchdowns against no interceptions in the past two games.

“We have to work to keep the score down because that aides us in terms of the game unfolding in the manner in which we need it to unfold,” said Tomlin. “A shootout is not the type of game we are looking for under the present circumstances.”

Bell leads the NFL with 440 total yards – an average of 146.7 per game – from scrimmage since returning from suspension.

But he was sued the least against the Dolphins, with 10 carries for 53 yards and six receptions for 55.

“The plays that are called, you just go out there and run it,” Bell said. “At the time, you think everything is going to work. That’s the approach I take. Whatever is called, we have to go out there and execute it the best that we can and see what happens.”

That would seem to be a direct shot at offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s game plan against the Dolphins, though Tomlin said the way the defense was playing helped dictate the offensive play calling.

Despite averaging 24 minutes in time of possession over their first five games, the Dolphins held the ball for 36:30 against the Steelers, rushing for 222 yards, including 204 by Jay Ajayi.

Tomlin admitted his defense got worn down because it couldn’t get off the field early in the game. Miami scored at least a field goal on six of its first eight possessions with the Steelers forcing one punt and blocking a field goal.

“I thought they won the war of attrition,” Tomlin said. “I thought their running back had a lot to do with that. I thought Jay Ajayi ran hard and they wanted to compliment him. … The number of snaps that we had on offense, and they had on offense, produced that erosion.”

Bell believes he can help balance that out more this week, though he won’t storm into Haley’s office and demand the ball.

“I don’t say anything. I just let everything happen,” Bell said. “If they want to run the rock, I’m good with it. I try to do whatever I can on offense to make some plays and make things happen.”

In addition to Roethlisberger, Tomlin said defensive end Cam Heyward (hamstring) and reserve offensive lineman Cody Wallace (knee) will miss Sunday’s game. Tomlin did have better news regarding other injured players, saying linebacker Ryan Shazier (knee), right tackle Marcus Gilbert (ankle), safety Shamarko Thomas (groin) and wide receiver Markus Wheaton (shoulder) could return. Running back DeAngelo Williams (knee) and safeties Mike Mitchell (knee) and Robert Golden (foot) were hurt against Miami and could be limited in practice. … The Steelers signed offensive tackle Brian Mihalik off the practice squad of Detroit and released offensive lineman Matt Feiler. Mihalik was in training camp with the Steelers but was waived/injured.