During his Tuesday press conference, Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said wide receiver Antonio Brown was pulled late in the game against the New England Patriots due to performance and execution issues.
“That was my decision,” Tomlin said. “We weren’t getting quality execution from an assignment standpoint. It led to an interception. I chose to remove him from the game.”
Brown played all but nine snaps in the game and his missed assignment on the final interception by Ben Roethlisberger is likely what earned him a spot on the sideline next to Tomlin. As you can see in the gif below, Brown appreared to run the same route as wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and Roethlisberger was expecting him to break outside.
Brown, who had five catches on nine targets in the game, registered 71 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots and his benching will be short lived as Tomlin said Tuesday he will be in the starting lineup Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.
Brown currently leads the league in catches with 61 and his 701 yards are good for ninth best in the league.
