Prior to Sunday's 29-14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Cincinnati Bengals looked to have handed the keys to their ground game to rookie Joe Mixon, giving him 40 carries over the past few three games.
However, despite running the ball seven times for 48 yards in the first half against Pittsburgh, including a 25-yarder to help set up a touchdown, Mixon didn't register a single tote after the break. He called out the lack of touches for himself - and for the entire Bengals running back group - after the game.
"It's frustrating. I feel like I'm seeing (Le'Veon Bell) got the ball 35 times, and I got it seven in the first half and then don't touch the ball again," Mixon said, according to ESPN's Katherine Terrell.
"(Jeremy) Hill only got one touch in the second half. It's frustrating to us running backs. We feel like we're in the room and we feel like we're part of the offense. If it worked in the first half, why not do it in the second?"
The Steelers rode Bell to victory after Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown created a healthy lead, with the running back racking up 134 yards on 35 carries.
Mixon believes he's capable of such a performance, and more, if given the opportunity.
"Me personally, I feel like I can do way more than (Bell) did. Like I said, I only had seven carries. I can't showcase nothing if I don't get the ball. There's nothing else I can say," Mixon said.
Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis dismissed Mixon's comments.
"He was there in the third quarter," Lewis said. "Whatever plays are called are called."
