Green, Brown make colorful catches seem routine

CINCINNATI — A.J. Green's tiptoe catch along the sideline was so remarkable that his former offensive coordinator couldn't believe he had done it.

Browns coach Hue Jackson threw the challenge flag after the Bengals receiver somehow came down with the ball for a tumbling, 13-yard gain during Cincinnati's 30-16 win last Sunday. The replay videos showed that Green had indeed managed to pull in the ball while getting his toes down inside the white line.

The 51,710 fans voiced their admiration as the play was shown on the video board. Green didn't even bother to watch the replay. He knew what he had done.

"We work on that every day — front foot down, drag the back," Green said matter-of-factly. "If you can get the front foot down, you can get your back one. You practice something enough, it becomes second-nature."

Later last Sunday in Pittsburgh, Antonio Brown made a similarly astounding sideline catch for a 23-yard gain that helped the Steelers get in range for their winning field goal on the final play against Green Bay. Just like A.J., A.B. made it look oh-so-easy.

"He's awesome," Steelers linebacker Vince Williams said. "We use that word too loosely. But compared to like professionals, they're not awesome. They're good. He's awesome."

Green and Brown could bring their graceful flair to one of the NFL's nastiest rivalries on Monday night when the Bengals (5-6) host the Steelers (9-2) at Paul Brown Stadium, although Brown is questionable with a toe issue. There figures to be a lot of trash talking and after-the-whistle pushing — there always is.

And Green and Brown could be trying to decide it with moves that leave everyone wondering: How do they do that?

"There's a lot of stuff that A.J. does and it's like, 'Man, there aren't too many people on this Earth who can do that,' " Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said.

Brown leads the league with 80 catches and 1,195 yards receiving. Green is tied for 20th with 53 catches and ranks seventh with 809 yards.

The Steelers can move one step closer to another AFC North title with a victory on Monday, which would be their sixth straight win in the series.

The Bengals have to win to maintain any thought of a playoff spot.