Chasing Franchise Immortality: Steelers Antonio Brown is within striking range of Steelers' receiving records

Antonio Brown's five-catch, 59-yard performance was vanilla in comparison with his usual games. The fact fans expected more is an indication of how big of a year Brown is having.

According to ESPN Stats Inc., Thursday marked the 12th consecutive game Brown has had at least five catches and 50 yards, the longest such streak in the NFL since Laveranues Coles did it for the Jets in 2002.

While the Steelers continue to keep a few fingers clasped to their slipping postseason chances, one of the main storylines finishing out this season is Brown's pursuit of the Steelers' franchise records for receptions in a season (112, held by Hines Ward) and receiving yards in a season (1,398, held by Yancey Thigpen).

He has 85 catches and 1,103 yards through 12 games.

Brown is five yards short of his own career high in receiving yards (1,108 in 2011), and is only about half a yard shy of Buddy Dial's 50-year-old record for receiving yards per game (92.5).

Brown will break both records if he averages seven catches and 73 yards per game through Pittsburgh's remaining four games. He's currently averaging better than that per game in both areas.

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