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Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown is lethal, but not the best combination in the NFL

Ben Roethlisberger has turned Antonio Brown into a household name, and although the duo is considered one of the best in the league, they are far from the top in regards to QB Rating.

By Jeff.Hartman
NFL: AFC Wild Card-Miami Dolphins at Pittsburgh Steelers Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

When you think of dynamic quarterback and wide receiver duos, Ben Roethlisberger to Antonio Brown should be on a very short list in the NFL. While Pittsburgh Steelers fans will suggest the two players are by far the best at what they do, especially when working together, the statistics at Pro Football Focus tell a different story.

As illustrated below, in regards to quarterback to receiver connections, minimum 25 targets, Roethlisberger and Brown were the only AFC duo to crack the Top 10, but they found themselves tied for 6th with Russell Wilson and Jimmy Graham.

Take a look at the chart below.

There are many who can’t stand Pro Football Focus and their grading systems, and rightfully so, but here the numbers are hard to ignore. Sure, seeing Sam Bradford throwing to anyone and being considered above Roethlisberger is hard to fathom, but the numbers don’t lie.

Now, before fans of the black and gold go jumping off a bridge, understand there isn’t much which separates these duos. Only 4.2-percent would have Roethlisberger and Brown in the No. 2 spot on this chart, and you have to wonder if Roethlisberger wouldn’t have missed time in 2016-2017 how that would have factored into the equation.

All of the numbers are well and good, but it has be wondering if Roethlisberger to Brown is the best duo in the NFL. When looking at it this way you would never have Sam Bradford even on the list. Matt Ryan to Julio Jones, Dak Prescott to Dez Bryant, and Aaron Rodgers to Jordy Nelson all come to mind...not Jameis Winston to Cameron Brate.

Everyone will have their opinion, but Big Ben to Brown certainly would find their way to the Top 3 of almost any logical football fan’s rankings.

As the team prepares for 2017-2018, Brown will have more weapons around him to help distract defenses. Last year Brown was surrounded by the likes of Sammie Coates, Cobi Hamilton, Eli Rogers and Darrius Heyward-Bey. This year, he will have Martavis Bryant, Ladarius Green healthy, Rogers, JuJu Smith-Schuster and Coates or Heyward-Bey to help free up space for him on the outside.

Who would you have as the most dynamic QB-WR duo in the NFL?

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