With Antonio Brown’s status for the divisional playoff game against the Broncos uncertain, the Pittsburgh Steelers might have to look toMartavis Bryant. If there’s one thing that’s certain about Bryant’s game, he’s a threat outside the numbers and has made the remarkable catch almost routine.
Bryant has run 182 routes outside the painted numbers this season (including the playoffs), and he has been targeted 42 percent of the time. Since he made his 2015 debut in Week 6 (and including the playoffs), that is the third-highest percentage of targets among wide receivers. By comparison, Brown was targeted 34 percent of the time on those plays in that span, 10th among receivers.
Bryant has especially made his mark this season on throws outside the numbers on the right side. Since his debut in Week 6 of 2015 and including playoffs:
• He has the most receptions (30) of any player. Brown is second with 27.
• His 477 receiving yards are 103 more than any other player has (Allen Robinson is second).
• He is tied with Robinson for the lead in receiving touchdowns with five.
• He has the highest targets per route run at 52 percent; the average for a player who meets qualification standards is 23 percent.
His five touchdown catches show his versatility in a small area of the field.
Circus catch ability: You don’t have to look further than his amazing catch in the right corner of the end zone in the wild card win over the Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger threw the pass 10 yards into that corner, where Bryant clutched the ball on his backside, flipped and maintained control through the catch.
The spot where only he could catch it: In Week 6, Landry Jonesthrew his first career touchdown pass. He threw to the back-right portion of the end zone, where Bryant jumped, caught and landed properly for a touchdown despite getting clocked by Tyrann Mathieu.
Separation for a long touchdown: In Week 13, Bryant lined up wide right and ran full speed down the sideline. Roethlisberger threw the pass 28 yards past the line of scrimmage, and Bryant beat his man and easily grabbed the ball for a 68-yard touchdown.
Nothing into something: With the score 21-21 early in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ Week 9 game against the Raiders, Bryant caught a pass thrown 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage, danced through two tacklers and hopped over a defender before he scored a 14-yard touchdown.
Score in hurry-up offense: With the clock running and less than a minute to go in the first half against the Browns in Week 10, the Steelers took a shot to the end zone. Bryant broke free from his man just long enough to catch a 32-yard touchdown in the back right portion of the end zone.
Now Bryant faces a team in the Denver Broncos against whom he had a season-high 10 catches and 14 targets in Week 15. His eight catches and 11 targets on throws outside the painted numbers on either side were a season-high as well. He and Brown combined for 17 catches and 165 yards on throws outside the numbers against the Broncos.
Bryant has especially made his mark this season on throws outside the numbers on the right side. Since his debut in Week 6 of 2015 and including playoffs:
• He has the most receptions (30) of any player. Brown is second with 27.
• His 477 receiving yards are 103 more than any other player has (Allen Robinson is second).
• He is tied with Robinson for the lead in receiving touchdowns with five.
• He has the highest targets per route run at 52 percent; the average for a player who meets qualification standards is 23 percent.
His five touchdown catches show his versatility in a small area of the field.
Circus catch ability: You don’t have to look further than his amazing catch in the right corner of the end zone in the wild card win over the Bengals. Ben Roethlisberger threw the pass 10 yards into that corner, where Bryant clutched the ball on his backside, flipped and maintained control through the catch.
The spot where only he could catch it: In Week 6, Landry Jonesthrew his first career touchdown pass. He threw to the back-right portion of the end zone, where Bryant jumped, caught and landed properly for a touchdown despite getting clocked by Tyrann Mathieu.
Separation for a long touchdown: In Week 13, Bryant lined up wide right and ran full speed down the sideline. Roethlisberger threw the pass 28 yards past the line of scrimmage, and Bryant beat his man and easily grabbed the ball for a 68-yard touchdown.
Nothing into something: With the score 21-21 early in the fourth quarter of the Steelers’ Week 9 game against the Raiders, Bryant caught a pass thrown 3 yards behind the line of scrimmage, danced through two tacklers and hopped over a defender before he scored a 14-yard touchdown.
Score in hurry-up offense: With the clock running and less than a minute to go in the first half against the Browns in Week 10, the Steelers took a shot to the end zone. Bryant broke free from his man just long enough to catch a 32-yard touchdown in the back right portion of the end zone.
Now Bryant faces a team in the Denver Broncos against whom he had a season-high 10 catches and 14 targets in Week 15. His eight catches and 11 targets on throws outside the painted numbers on either side were a season-high as well. He and Brown combined for 17 catches and 165 yards on throws outside the numbers against the Broncos.
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