The Pittsburgh Steelers Badly Missed LeGarrette Blount

For the first time in the history of the rivalry, the Pittsburgh Steelers were forced to taste defeat at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens.  The fact that it came on their home field made it that much worse.  Finding answers as to why things went so wrong will be ongoing, but anybody who has stayed aprised of the situation understood as the game went on what the problem was.

Pittsburgh couldn’t run the ball.

For all the credit Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown deserve, Bell was the engine that kicked that offense into overdrive.  He was the catalyst behind their 43-23 beatdown of Baltimore earlier in the season and his absence was clearly felt as the Steelers managed just 68 yards rushing.  Free agent addition Ben Tate wasn’t much help.

Perhaps, looking back, nothing was more maginified in that game than the absence of LeGarrette Blount.  Many might recall the former backup was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers after the frustrated back walked off the field early during a Week 11 game against Tennessee.  He has since landed back in New England with the Patriots, who play the Ravens in the divisional round.

During the 11 games he played in Pittsburgh, Blount averaged 4.1 yards per carry which included a 118-yard explosion on Carolina in just 10 carries.  His size and power were perfectly suited to a physical matchup with the Ravens and on top of that he has a history of performing in the playoffs.

Now all the Steelers can do is ponder what might have been had they tried to be a little more lenient with mercurial runner two months ago.