Nov 5, 2002 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Most NFL coaches wouldn’t think of sitting down a running back who had just rushed for 111 yards and caught passes for 62 yards in an important victory. Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher might do exactly that Sunday against Atlanta.

Amos Zereoue ran for 164 yards and two touchdowns in the last two weeks as the Steelers (5-3) extended their winning streak to four, yet he may go back to the bench Sunday if Jerome Bettis is healthy. Bettis, the NFL’s 11th-leading career rusher, has missed two games with a strained knee.

Bettis expects to be ready to play against the Atlanta Falcons (5-3), and the Steelers aren’t likely to keep him on the sidelines if he is healthy.

Zereoue’s production in his first two NFL starts may not have secured him a full-time job, but it showed why the Steelers signed the backup to a $8.8 million contract extension during the offseason.

“I know I can do it,” Zereoue said. “I just had to prove it. I know my team knew I could do it. Hopefully, the coaches know. But all I can do is go out there and play ball.”

At 5-foot-8, Zereoue is one of the NFL’s shortest running backs, but his breakaway speed counterbalances Bettis’ power running. When Bettis was healthy, he usually played first and second downs and Zereoue came on for third downs, when he is a threat to catch a pass out of the backfield.

On Sunday, Zereoue’s 29 carries included runs of 14, 27, 12 and 13 yards. The week before, he ran for two touchdowns and averaged nearly 5 yards per carry in a 31-18 victory at Baltimore.

“He’s always looked for that opportunity,” Cowher said. “He’s one of those guys who may have a zero-yard run, but then he’s going to give you an 18- or a 20-yarder. He gives you a chance to break the big one. He’s one of those guys who doesn’t always go the way the play is designed. But he can make some big plays for you.”

For now, Zereoue may go back to making them only occasionally. Bettis is coming off six consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and, after missing five of the Steelers’ last six games last season with a groin injury, looked ready to be productive again before hurting his knee Oct. 21 against Indianapolis.

The week before that, Bettis ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns in an easy victory at Cincinnati, his first 100-yard game since Nov. 11, 2001.

Earlier in the season, Bettis would play two series before Zereoue would come on. But Zereoue sometimes stayed on for more than a series at a time, something he might do again if he keeps running the way he did in his last two games.

Zereoue’s production helped prevent any drop-off in a Steelers offense that has scored 162 points in 21 quarters since Tommy Maddox replaced Kordell Stewart at quarterback. Even with Bettis hurt part of the time, the Steelers have won five of six since Maddox took over, averaging 29.6 points in his starts.

Atlanta has been similarly productive with Michael Vick at quarterback for three of the four games during its own four-game winning streak. Vick has thrown for 509 yards the last three weeks and has twice rushed for 91 yards and two touchdowns in a game.

“Atlanta is a team you can’t look past,” safety Lee Flowers said. “We’re rolling right now, but we need to stay humble.”