There’s good reason why Patriots running back Ezekiel Elliott was able to stay on the field for over 90% of snaps and gain 140 total yards of offense 13 games into his eighth NFL season.

“This probably is the best I’ve felt this late in a season,” Elliott told reporters after Thursday night’s 21-18 win over the Steelers.

The Patriots needed him to play a major role Thursday with starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson nursing a high-ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out weeks.

Elliott scored the Patriots’ first touchdown of the night on an 11-yard touchdown catch from quarterback Bailey Zappe. He carried the ball 21 times for 68 yards and caught seven passes on eight targets for 72 yards with the touchdown in the win.

Kevin Harris — elevated from the practice squad Thursday — never spelled Elliott. Ty Montgomery was on the field for just six snaps.

Elliott also made a key play to tackle Mykal Walker after the Steelers linebacker picked off Zappe. The Steelers wound up turning the ball over on downs on their ensuing drive.

“I thought Zeke ran hard. Zeke made a big play on the interception to keep them out of the end zone, wound up getting a defensive stop on that. That was a huge play,” head coach Bill Belichick said after the game.

“He comes to work every day. We needed him to step up and carry the mail today, and he did. So, he carried the ball and took a lot of plays, a lot of snaps, short week. He got banged up last week, but that was a pro performance today.”