Great signal for Ben, Brown

QB-WR tandem have big 2nd half in crucial victory

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown was spot on Friday afternoon when he characterized his current rapport with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger like this: “It’s like Wi-Fi. Sometimes, the connection is poor. Sometimes, the connection is great. But it’s always connected.”

That was never truer Sunday afternoon at Heinz Field. The connection in the first half was poor, maybe as poor as it has ever been. Brown had two catches for 15 yards, and it looked as if it was going to be another in a series of off games for the duo. That was especially the feeling after Roethlisberger threw an ill-advised pass intended for Brown into the end zone that was intercepted with 30 seconds remaining in the first half.

It was one of the worst decisions of Roethlisberger’s career. He scrambled backward, threw off his back foot and toward the middle of the field where a flock of Falcons seemingly had gathered for a team meeting.

Yet it all made sense for Roethlisberger.

“He’s the best in the world,” Roethlisberger said afterward, trying to explain why he threw it. “When I see my guy one-on-one with the defender’s back turned … I’m going to give him a chance.”

Roethlisberger kept giving Brown chances in the second half. And for two quarters at least, it looked like the old Roethlisberger and Brown connection.

Brown caught a 9-yard touchdown in the third quarter and a 47-yard touchdown in the fourth, the first deep ball he caught all season. Afterward, Brown and Roethlisberger embraced on the sideline a week after they barely talked in a lopsided home loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

“We’re always on the same page,” Brown said. “We’re always positive. We never listen to what the media says. We know we have to stay together regardless of what’s being said. All of my touchdowns, all of my catches are from him. That’s my guy. I live and die with him. The Wi-Fi was lit.”

Brown finished with six catches for 101 yards and two touchdowns — his first 100yard receiving game of the season. The first touchdown pass to Brown was a timing pattern toward the sideline, and Roethlisberger hit him in stride for the score. In any other year, it would have been a ho-hum hookup.

But not this year. Roethlisberger pumped his fist afterward in a show of emotion.

“It wasn’t about connecting with A.B. and him scoring,” Roethlisberger said. “It was just more about me being frustrated with the way I was playing and kind of getting confidence about making that throw because it wasn’t an easy route, and it wasn’t an easy throw. So it was more about that than who caught it.”

Roethlisberger was just 9 for 17 for 95 yards with a touchdown and an interception at halftime. In the final two quarters, he was 10 for 12 for 165 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Roethlisberger downplayed the notion that increased communication with Brown and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner was the reason for the uptick in production.

“I have no idea what it was because it wasn’t anything special,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s not like we had any crazy talk. We told you guys there were no issues. We just weren’t connecting. I wasn’t playing well enough. Not saying I played great today, but we made enough plays and I thought we did what we had to do.”

Through five games, Brown has 35 receptions for 373 yards and five touchdowns. He is on pace for his career high in touchdown catches and his third-most receptions. And he’s on pace for almost 1,200 yards.

Those are statistics most any receiver in the NFL would take in a heartbeat. Yet it felt like Roethlisberger and Brown turned a corner Sunday for even better days ahead.

“I count the wins,” Brown said. “It was a great day today to win, especially at home. We have to establish a rhythm and make opponents feel what it’s like to play at Heinz Field. We have to continue to build off this going forward.”

“... That’s my guy. I live and die with him. The Wi-Fi was lit.” — Antonio Brown, on Ben Roethlisberger

Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo @post-gazette.com and Twitter @rayfitt1.