Antonio Brown On Record-Setting Pace

Nazrul Islam via Flickr

NFL

Antonio Brown’s Record-Setting Pace

While Antonio Brown’s season got off to a slow start, a ridiculous touchdown streak has him set up for a personal best. Brown is on pace to end the year with 18 receiving touchdowns, averaging 1.1 touchdowns per game this year. If Brown manages to keep this pace, he will tie Mark Clayton and Sterling Sharpe for the third most receiving touchdowns in a single season.

Brown also recorded his 70th receiving touchdown against the Jaguars this past weekend. The touchdown made him and Ben Roethlisberger the seventh QB-WR combo to record 70 touchdowns together.

One final record Brown is racing for is consecutive games with a receiving touchdown for the Steelers franchise. With Sunday’s touchdown, Brown has now scored in eight consecutive games — putting him three games behind the franchise record of eleven straight. That record was set by Buddy Dial, who scored in eleven straight games between the 1959 and 1960 seasons.

Brown’s Next Match-up

In Brown’s nine-year career, he has only faced the Denver Broncos three times. With Brown’s small sample size, he has surely seen great success against this team. Over those three games, Browns has recorded 25 receptions 333 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. His last matchup against Denver was the 2015 season, when Brown went for 16 receptions, 189 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

This Broncos defense has also been susceptible to the passing attack this season, ranking 18th in both passing yards per game and passing touchdowns allowed. Denver is also ranked 16th in passer rating allowed, making them an average to below-average pass defense. The Broncos are also surrendering the 9th worst passing yards per attempt at 7.9 yards per pass.

Antonio Brown will see a heavy dose of Chris Harris Jr. and Bradley Roby, but nobody has seemed to quiet Brown yet. Even last week against star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Brown seemed to do whatever he wanted.

Whether he was scoring a touchdown, completing the team’s comeback, or just abusing Ramsey on double moves, it is clear Brown is the top of the top when it comes to receivers. At this point, no matter what Brown’s matchup is, he seems locked in and ready to destroy. While Denver’s defense has a lot of talent, I do not see them stopping Browns’ touchdown streak just yet.

Photo Credit: Nazrul Islam via Flickr

To stay updated on news from the Steelers and around the NFL, follow James Hall on Twitter: @jhallT101sports