Brown’s splash play just what was needed

passes for 96 yards including the short pass he turned into the 31-yard winner with 10 seconds left, blowing up the Bengals again.

“Just two guys that have made a lot of plays together,’’ coach Mike Tomlin said of Brown and Roethlisberger. “That just added to their portfolio. You guys have talked a lot about plays they haven’t made thus far. Talk about this one.”

The coach did not need to encourage anyone to talk about that pass against Cincinnati’s “zero” coverage, which is an aggressive blitzing man-to-man defense that allows for no safety help. Think Tim Tebow’s overtime pass to Demaryius Thomas that beat the Steelers in overtime in the 2011 playoffs.

Roethlisberger recognized what the Bengals were doing immediately and flipped a quick, short pass to Brown, who did the rest.

Once languishing out of the top 10, Brown’s 40 receptions now are tied for eighth in the NFL with former teammate Emmanuel Sanders, two behind teammate JuJu Smith-Schuster. His six touchdown receptions are tied for the league lead and his average per catch of 6.4 yards three games into the season, stands at a more A.B.-like 12.0 after his second consecutive 100-yard game. Five of his six touchdowns have come in the past four games that include three victories.

Since his sideline eruption in the Steelers loss to Kansas City in the second game of the season, he has kept his emotions in check.

“It’s been a patient game for me all year,’’ Brown said. “Ben tells me all the time to just stay with him. And I knew if I stayed with him that there was going to be opportunity [Sunday]. And that’s what we did.”

Patient is not a word normally used to describe Brown, who practically demands to have the ball in his hands. The way he’s performed over his nine seasons, it’s easy to see why, even if it has been slow to come this year. Roethlisberger has thrown 72 balls to Brown, the second-most targets in the NFL.

So far, No. 72 was perhaps the shortest in distance and the most vital.

“I’m just grateful it worked,’’ Brown said. “I’m excited about it. That’s how it is. When I come out to the games, they’re going to be rolling two people my way the whole game. And I know as the game goes on we’re going to be presented with opportunities.

“It’s all about being positive, about staying poised, trusting in your belief, and letting the game come to you. [Sunday], in the clutch moment, I had the opportunity to make a play.”

And despite all the other stuff, the play’s the thing for Antonio Brown.