It’s not like the Steelers are going to take carries away from Le’Veon Bell when he returns from his suspension.
But they more than survived his absence.
Veteran backup running back DeAngelo Williams ran for three touchdowns, as the Steelers hammered the 49ers 43-18.
Williams had 127 rushing yards in last week’s loss to the Patriots, and kept the Steelers from missing their bell cow back. Of course, the way Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown are playing pitch-and-catch, they might have anyway.
Brown finished the game with 195 receiving yards and a touchdown, as only a big lead kept Roethlisberger from putting up record numbers, as he had 252 passing yards at halftime.
They were up so big late they left Michael Vick to take the final knees to end the game, cruising to even their record at 1-1.
The 49ers have the same record, though it feels far different. Running back Carlos Hyde left the game with what appeared to be a head injury but later returned. But he wasn’t able to run often enough for it to matter, as the Steelers cruised to the big lead early and never looked back.