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Best route runner in today's game... AB84 pic.twitter.com/vmSvQ693pZ
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) December 7, 2014
Modest praise and comments sure to generate vicious responses, but a nice compliment and a statement backing up what seems readily obvious to us.
Antonio Brown's game went less-heralded than many in his past, or maybe it's the least-discussed, nine-catch, 117-yard performance he's ever had. But from a technical standpoint, Brown ran some fantastic routes in this game and made some big catches. He also got into a verbal spat with Bengals cornerback Leon Hall, not long before Steelers rookie Martavis Bryant fried him on a fly-route from the Steelers' six-yard line for a touchdown.
If Bryant got the headlines, Brown did the grunt work. A few key third-down catches, including one that set up Le'Veon Bell's third and final touchdown in a dominant fourth quarter for the Steelers. The combination of his speed in and out of his breaks and the precision of his routes is probably why he'll most likely break his own franchise record for receiving yards in a season (1,399), and will also break the team's receptions record (110 catches) not long afterwards. Brown currently sits at 105 catches and 1,375 yards this season.
Check back again around the third quarter of the Steelers' Week 15 game at Atlanta.