Jaylen Samuels never rushed for 100 yards.
Not in high school.
Not in college.
Not in the pros ... until Sunday, when he slashed through the Patriots defense for 142 yards on 19 carries, helping the Steelers (8-5-1) defeat their archnemesis, 17-10, at Heinz Field.
"Last week I had the start, the first start of my career," Samuels said postgame. "This week, I knew I was starting again against a great matchup, so I just had to key into the little things this week and come well prepared."
Prepared, indeed.
Coming off a 28-yard performance in his first NFL start last week against the Raiders, Samuels posted 70 rushing yards in the first half Sunday before adding another 72 in the final 30 minutes of play. On top of that, he chipped in with two catches for 30 yards, including a clutch third-down conversion late in the game.
Mike Tomlin took notice.
"I think about the young guys that had positive contributions, guys like Jaylen and guys like James Washington," Tomlin said in his postgame press conference. "(I) can't say enough about their contributions."
The numbers impress, but can Samuels consistently handle that type of workload?
A wildcard throughout his football career, Samuels played everything from wildcat quarterback to wide receiver to safety in high school. In college, he took on a similar plug-and-play role. Now getting his first taste of a traditional running back's demands, Samuels admits it was a grind he hadn't previously felt.
"It was a heck of a workload, but that's what comes with playing running back in the National Football League," Samuels said. "It was a good test tonight against a great team."
With starting running back James Conner expected to return next week against the Saints, it's unlikely Samuels will need to put up another 20-touch game this season. But it's good to see he can, something not lost on any of his teammates in the wake of the Steelers' latest victory.
"He caught the ball. He ran," Ben Roethlisberger said postgame at Heinz Field. "There's still some room for improvement, but there is for all of us. So the way that he stepped up was special."
Even Steelers great Jerome Bettis had to show some love.
I’m liking the way @JaySam1k is running
— Jerome Bettis (@JeromeBettis36) December 17, 2018
The performance couldn't have come at a better time, either. The Ravens improved to 8-6 with a 20-12 victory over the Buccaneers earlier in the day, making the Steelers' matchup vs. the Patriots a must-win in order to maintain their half-game lead in the division.
With the help of Samuels, they got it done and will close out the 2018 regular season on the road against the Saints (11-2) and at home vs. the Bengals (6-8).
MATT SUNDAY GALLERY
Steelers vs. Patriots, Heinz Field, Dec. 16, 2018 - MATT SUNDAY / DKPS