When you consider the incredible performances this season of the Pittsburgh Steelers trio of Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and Le’Veon Bell, it’s simply impossible to argue there is a better combination of quarterback, wide receiver, and running back in the NFL today.
In fact, when you consider the seasons each player is having in 2014, it’s hard to come up with many combinations that have been better in NFL history.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s been some great trios over the years, and many fans might even argue that this is not the best trio in Steeler history. However, when you look at the numbers, and consider how great Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell have been, it’s hard to win that debate.
For Roethlisberger, the numbers across the board for the season indicate a career year, and the Steelers have needed every bit of his incredible play in AFC playoff race. Roethlisberger is ranked near the top in every important statistical passing category, and with a strong finish in his last two regular season games against Kansas City and Cincinnati, he will only strengthen his case as a legitimate MVP candidate.
Roethlisberger is second in the league in passing with a career high 4,415 yards. That total is a mere 75 yards behind league leader Andrew Luck. He’s also in the top three in passer rating, where his 103.4 rating trails only Aaron Rodgers (111.2) and Peyton Manning (106.4) for the league lead. In terms of touchdown passes, Roethlisberger needs four more in the final two games to surpass his season best of 32 set in 2007.
Finally, Roethlisberger has done a tremendous job of protecting the ball this season, and has only accounted for 11 turnovers all year. With only eight interceptions and three fumbles thus far, Roethlisberger’s improvement in this area can’t be overlooked, especially with a Steelers’ defense that has largely struggled in 2014.
That be one of the biggest factors in might give Roethlisberger a real shot at MVP. Considering the challenges this young, and oft-injured Steelers’ defense has faced, Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense has been asked to carry the load. Though impossible to measure based solely on stats, you could make the case that no player has been more valuable to their team than Roethlisberger. It’s hard to imagine this team coming remotely close to nine wins with Bruce Gradkowski running the offense.
With a new contract almost certainly coming in the offseason, Roethlisberger has proved his value as the Steelers’ franchise QB more than ever, and that should pay major dividends for the 32-year old signal caller.
No player has benefitted more from Roethlisberger’s career season than Brown. In a season with receivers such as Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas, Jordy Nelson, and T.Y. Hilton having remarkable years, Brown has been the best of them all.
The numbers simply don’t lie; Brown’s running total of 115 receptions not only breaks Hines Ward’s franchise record of 112 set in 2002, they are 19 catches better than Thomas’s 96. It is also only the fourth time in NFL history that a receiver has recorded consecutive seasons with 110 catches or more, joining Jerry Rice, Chris Carter, and Wes Welker in that elite company.
Brown also leads the NFL in receiving yards with 1,498 and his 11 touchdown receptions are two behind the Dallas Cowboys’ Dez Bryant for the league lead. To put Brown’s season in perspective, at his current average of just over eight catches and 107 yards per game, Brown is on pace for 131 catches and 1,712 yards.
In fact, if Brown could keep on that pace and achieve those numbers, his performance would rank statistically as one the greatest seasons by a wide receiver in NFL history. From strictly a numbers standpoint, only Calvin Johnson’s 122 catch, 1,964 yard season in 2012, and Marvin Harrison’s epic 143 catch, 1,722 yard season in 2002 would compare.
It’s hard to imagine another player, let alone a teammate, whose 2014 performance could rival that of Brown. However, Bell has found a way to do it. The second year Michigan State product has proven to best dual threat back in the NFL, and his numbers back up the assertion.
Bell’s 1,278 rushing yards trail only DeMarco Murray for league best, and he has also added 76 catches for 765 yards. Bell’s reception total is good enough for 16th best in the league, and his total yards from scrimmage has him chasing history.
With two games left in the season, Bell’s average of 145.9 yards from scrimmage per game puts him on pace for 2,335 yards, which would rank as the sixth-highest total ever in the history of the game. Bell also became the first back since Walter Payton in 1977 to have three straight games with over 200 all-purpose yards in season.
Bell has also shattered the Steelers record for most catches by a running back, easily surpassing John L. Williams’ mark of 51 in 1994. Though last week’s 47 yard effort against the Falcons will make the challenge more difficult, Bell still has an outside shot of breaking Barry Foster’s franchise record for most rushing yards in a season with 1,690 in 1992.
Regardless, only Murray has had a comparable year, and Bell should have a great opportunity to join Brown as an All-Pro.
When consider the efforts of the Steeler “power trio” of Roethlisberger, Brown and Bell, it’s hard to imagine this team would be on the cusp of a playoff berth, and two wins away from their first AFC North crown since 2010.
Ultimately, they will need more of the same if the Steelers have any chance of advancing deep in the playoffs.
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