FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Quick-hit thoughts and notes around the New England Patriots and NFL:
1. Le’Veon Bell is the marquee running back in Sunday’s AFC Championship Game between the Steelers and Patriots, which is a point few would argue. But catching up with Houston Texans coach Bill O’Brien last week, his thoughts on the Patriots’ offensive backfield were a reminder that the unit also shouldn't be overlooked.
I had reached out to O’Brien to specifically discuss the impact of running back Dion Lewis (three TDs) in the Patriots’ 34-16 divisional-round victory over the Texans, but what resulted was a more broad discussion on the uniqueness of the Patriots’ running back position based on its varied personnel.