Steelers struggle without Antonio Brown, Le’Veon Bell

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) — The post-Antonio Brown era is off to a bad start for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pittsburgh struggled to generate offense in a 33-3 loss at New England on Sunday night in its first game since parting with the four-time All-Pro wide receiver. Without Brown to throw to, Ben Roethlisberger finished 27 of 47 for 277 yards and an interception.

Pittsburgh’s only points came on Chris Boswell’s 19-yard field goal with 10:17 left in the third quarter.

The disgruntled Brown was traded to Oakland last March and signed a three-year extension with the Raiders. He requested and was granted his release by Oakland on Saturday after a tumultuous offseason and training camp.

A few hours later, Brown was headed to the Patriots, the Steelers’ top AFC rival.

“My professional reaction is I really don’t have one,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin told NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” broadcast before the game. “We’ve been emotionally detached from him for some time now.”

Brown wasn’t the only loss to leave a void in the offense. Two-time All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell held out all of last season over a contract dispute and signed with the New York Jets during the offseason.

Bell’s replacement, third-year back James Conner, had 21 yards on 10 carries and the Steelers managed only 32 rushing yards.

Bell rushed for 60 yards and a touchdown for the Jets against Buffalo on Sunday.