It was tough sledding early on for the Titans (-3.5) in their Divisional Round matchup with the Bengals. The AFC’s No. 1 seed, with Derrick Henry back in their backfield, appeared quite lifeless for a team with the only bye week and home-field advantage throughout the conference’s playoffs. Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Co. were comfortably humming along, while Ryan Tannehill looked lost, out of his element, and like someone who didn’t belong in this competitive quarterfinal.
The Bengals had what seemed like a solid one-score lead and the Titans? Well, the Titans looked like a chum in the water waiting to be devoured. It wasn’t exactly how anyone in Nashville had hoped this playoff run would unfold.
Then the electric A.J. Brown happened.
AJ BROWN. TIE GAME. #NFLPlayoffs #Titans
📺: #CINvsTEN on CBS
📱: https://t.co/3uvV4E3BTI pic.twitter.com/puLZvZe9Ck— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2022
Ridiculous. Stupendous. Outstanding. The epitome of a game-breaking play in a big game in a big spot.
Oh, sorry. I got ahead of myself. If you didn’t have a clear picture of what Brown did to two poor members of the Bengals’ secondary, here’s another angle.
LOOK MA, ONE HAND. @1kalwaysopen_ #NFLPlayoffs
📺: #CINvsTEN on CBS
📱: https://t.co/3uvV4E3BTI pic.twitter.com/1YfKAJvHVC— NFL (@NFL) January 22, 2022
Ladies and gentlemen, that is a one-armed catch in between two defenders with only a few feet separating Brown from the boundary. With the touchdown, Brown hit on an anytime touchdown (+120) for bettors over with Tipico.
And if that wasn’t enough in a tense game like this: He also broke a Titans/Oilers franchise record with 142 receiving yards (and counting) in one playoff game.
With 142 receiving yards and counting, A.J. Brown has broken the single-game playoff franchise record, previously held by Ernest Givins (136 in 1989 Wild Card Round vs PIT)@Titans | @1kalwaysopen_
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 23, 2022
Not that that’s surprising of course. Saturday was another day in the office for Brown, nothing more.
You know they say NFL athletes are built differently from us regular, far less athletic human beings. But you don’t always see direct, circumstantial evidence of that prowess. It’s one of those anecdotes that you have to see to believe.
Brown has made every single one of us believers.
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