During this dead period of the NFL season I thought it would be fun to look back at the tremendous 2015 season that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown had as it relates to the targeted passes that he didn’t manage to catch. This series, however, should not be viewed as me nit-picking Brown as instead I hope to show what a reliable pass catcher he is as it relates to catchable and non-catchable balls thrown his direction.
I was going to end this series after the Steelers regular season but being as someone asked that I include the one playoff game that Brown played in against the Cincinnati Bengals, I figured I would go ahead and oblige the request.
In the Wild Card game against the Bengals, Brown caught 7 passes for 119 yards before leaving the game very late with a concussion. He was “officially” targeted 12 times in that game so we have five incompleted passes thrown his way to discuss.
The first misconnect in the game didn’t come until late in the first half. On this 3rd and 2 play, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger attempted to hit Brown deep over the top for a touchdown on the left side. Brown, however, was covered by Bengals cornerback Adam Jones on the play and had his route interrupted. It sure appears as though Jones got away with some illegal contact on this play yet Brown’s plea for a penalty goes for not.
With time winding down in the first half and the Steelers driving, Roethlisberger again failed to hook up with Brown on this 1st and 10 play. This time, however, it looks like Brown runs an option route out of the slot with only a linebacker in coverage. Even though the pass is on top of Brown in a hurry as he breaks to the outside, it sure looks like this is one he should have caught. So I ask you, would you register this one as a drop? It’s a tough call.
Two plays later, Brown and Roethlisberger again failed to hook up. On this third down play, the Steelers quarterback appears to have an open Brown in the end zone. Roethlisberger, however, doesn’t get enough air under the pass and as a result it is nearly intercepted by a Bengals linebacker.
With time winding down in the fourth quarter and the Steelers ahead by 5 points, the offense was in the hands of backup quarterback Landry Jones as Roethlisberger was sidelined with an injury at the time. On this 3rd and 4 play, Jones severely under-throws Brown and the football hits a trailing Bengals defender in the back.
Roethlisberger managed to return for the Steelers final drive of the game and on this 2nd and 2 play he fails to connect with Brown on a quick in-breaking route. While the pass appears to be slightly behind Brown with an underneath Bengals defensive player quickly approaching, it’s probably a ball the Steelers wide receiver should have caught for a first down. Would you score this one a drop?
As it turns out, Brown was involved in what would wind up being the biggest play of the game and one that ultimately led to the Steelers winning. With 22 seconds remaining and the football at the Bengals 47-yard-line, Roethlisberger attempted to hit Brown deep near the middle of the field on this 1st and 10 play. Brown, however, was unable to reach Roethlisberger’s high pass and was quickly hit in the head by Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. Brown unfortunately suffered a concussion on this play and the injury ultimately prevented him playing the following week against the Denver Broncos. As a result of the hit Burfict and the Bengals were penalized 15 yards for Unnecessary Roughness on this play and another 15 yards was tacked on thanks to Jones going after Steelers linebacker coach Joey Porter while Brown was being helped off the field. Those back-to-back penalties set Steelers kicker Chris Boswell up for the 35-yard game-winning kick.
On Friday, I will statistically recap for you all of the incomplete throws to Brown during the 2015 season to mercifully put an end to this long-running series.
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 1
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 2
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 3
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 4
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 5
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 6
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 7
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 8
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 9
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 10
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 11
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 12
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 13
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 14
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 15
Why Didn’t Antonio Brown Catch That? Part 16
