Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antonio Brown gave another dominant performance against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI |
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CLEVELAND -- Documents say Jimmy and Dee Haslam own the Cleveland Browns, but ownership temporarily switches to wide receiver Antonio Brown when the Pittsburgh Steelers are the opposition.
Brown caught 11 passes for 182 yards on Sunday as the Steelers posted a 21-18 win over the Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium in the season opener for both teams. Brown did not score, but he didn't have to; the Steelers got their touchdowns following a blocked punt and two TD passes from Ben Roethlisberger to tight end Jesse James.
Brown produced big plays to set up both touchdown passes to James. One covered 50 yards to the Browns 39-yard line just before the two-minute warning in the second quarter. Brown had 80 yards in receptions on that drive, setting up a 4-yard pass scoring pass to James.
Cleveland linebacker Joe Schobert deflected the pass from Roethlisberger on the 50-yard play, but Brown still hauled it in.
"I was able to go up and grab it and secure it," Brown said. "It was a great throw by Ben, giving me a chance. I was glad we came up with the chance and also the win."
Brown drew a pass interference penalty on Browns cornerback Jamar Taylor on a play that covered 41 yards. It set up a 2-yard touchdown pass to James that gave the Steelers a 21-10 lead in the third quarter.
Brown has had more success against Cleveland than against any other team in the league. He has 86 catches for 1,314 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games vs. the Browns. The Steelers are 11-1 in those contests.
"It's not our first rodeo," Roethlisberger said. "You know, I see AB going, I'm going to take that shot. I've got all the trust in the world in him, and he's got it in me. I don't think there are any two guys that work together like him and I do, so it's fun to watch him play and be on the same team with him."
Even the Browns marvel at the way Brown plays against them, although he has been beating them regularly since 2011.
"He's one of the best in the league, so you have to make sure that you key in on him," Browns safety Derrick Kindred said. "Unfortunately, we didn't get that done as well as we wanted to."
