Jan 20, 2017 5 min read

PITTSBURGH – It’s not quite the same conundrum as contemplating the meaning of life, but it’s been one opposing teams have struggled with for years when playing the Steelers.

Do you load up to stop running back Le’Veon Bell or do you try to slow wide receiver Antonio Brown?

Of late, the answer has been neither as the duo heads into the AFC Championship game Sunday at New England’s Gillette Stadium on a roll.

Bell has gained 100 yards from scrimmage in 13 of 14 games this season, including the playoffs, and has at least 100 rushing yards in seven of his past eight starts. He gained 93 yards in the game he didn’t reach 100.

Brown, meanwhile, has at least five receptions, more than 76 yards or a touchdown in 10 of his past 11 games. He scored 12 touchdowns during the regular season and has two in the playoffs to go along with a pair of 100-yard games.

“They’re both guys who we’ve got to attack, both guys that we’ve got to game plan for and key in on,” said New England defensive end Trey Flowers. “They’re both explosive players, so anytime they’ve got the ball in hand, we definitely are at a point of attack.”

The Steelers have thrived when they’ve had Bell, Brown and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the lineup together since selecting Bell in the second round of the 2013 draft. When those three play, Pittsburgh is 30-14, a .682 winning percentage. When they aren’t on the field together, the Steelers are 12-13.

New England didn’t have much success stopping Bell or Brown in their previous meeting. Brown had seven catches for 106 yards while working mostly against cornerback Malcolm Butler, and Bell gained 81 rushing yards on 21 carries and caught 10 passes for 68 yards.

The Patriots did win the game, 27-16, as backup quarterback Landry Jones started the for the Steelers in place of Roethlisberger, who was out after having knee surgery. That loss came when the Steelers were mired in the midst of a four-game losing streak that dropped their record to 4-5. But they’ve leaned heavily on their stars, particularly Bell, and have rattled off nine-straight wins.

The Steelers know New England coach Bill Belichick’s reputation for trying to take away an opponent’s top offensive threat. But they have confidence that won’t happen because they have so many options.

“During the course of the game, I do a pretty good job of adjusting to how guys play me,” said Bell, who 337 rushing yards in his first two playoff games, seven yards shy of Franco Harris’ team record for a postseason.

“I get different types of things all the time (and) I think I’ve been doing a good job adjusting. I’m going to try to continue to do that.”

Likewise, Brown is excited about the chance to go against Butler again. The two shot a national television commercial together this season and got to know each another.

“I have a lot of respect for him,” Brown said. “He is a follow-type corner. He is going to be there.”

The X-factor for the Steelers could be the return of tight end Ladarius Green.

After missing practice Thursday with a stomach flu, Green, who has been out since suffering a concussion Dec. 18 in a win at Cincinnati, practiced Friday.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Green is still in concussion protocol, but he was permitted to speak to reporters for the first time since suffering the concussion and is listed as questionable.

“You don’t know what it’s like to be a player and not be able to go out and perform with your teammates,” said Brown, who missed last season’s season-ending playoff loss at Denver with a concussion. “I am sure he is going to be excited. He will definitely make a difference, in the middle of the field, in regards to our offense. We are excited to have him back.”

The potential return of Green could cause issues for the Patriots if they attempt to double-team Brown with a safety or move a safety to the line of scrimmage in an attempt to slow Bell.

Kansas City tried to do that last week and tight end Jesse James caught five passes for 83 yards.

“They might not get the ball as much, but game plans change,” New England safety Patrick Chung said of the Steelers’ tight ends. “We have to be ready for everybody. They are good. They are all different, but they all have strengths. You have Big Ben throwing them the ball so that adds another factor. We have to be prepared for everybody. They are game-planning. We are game-planning. The best execution is going to win.”

Hines Ward will serve as an honorary captain for the Steelers. New England’s honorary captain will be Tedy Bruschi. … In addition to Green, linebacker James Harrison (shoulder/triceps) and running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (concussion) are questionable. Both Harrison and Toussaint practiced fully Friday. … For New England, receivers Danny Amendola, Chris Hogan and Malcolm Mitchell, tight end Martellus Bennett, running back Brandon Bolden, linebacker Dont’a Hightower and defensive end Jabaal Sheard all were listed as limited for the third consecutive day. They are listed as questionable to play Sunday.