Has Antonio Brown Become the NFL's Most Dangerous Receiver?

It is important, even in a devastating loss, to try and celebrate the positives of a performance. The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot to learn from their 27-24 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, if there is a positive to draw from all this, it is that wide receiver Antonio Brown continues to shine as one of the truly elite at his position.

The NFL season is essentially divided into four quarters, each consisting of four games. As the first quarter of the season draws to a close, Brown continues to elevate his play to that upper-echelon level of NFL wide receivers. Last week, I began this discussion about where Brown belongs among the current crop of wide receivers, and Brown did nothing on Sunday to dissuade me from the debate.

In fact, Bleacher Report’s own Chris Simms took the discussion a step further. And as you can see in the video below, Simms makes some great points about why Brown should be rated even higher than he is now.

In the video, Simms makes a great point as far as Brown in comparison to a player like Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Where Brown separates himself is his ability to make a play after he has the football in his hands. Whether it is on a screen pass or a slant, Brown is velocious once he is on the move. 

Justin K. Aller/Getty Images

Yes, I used velocious to describe Brown, because at some point you just run out of superlatives to describe a talented skill set like his. In a league that covets the “big” wide receiver, Brown has proven that you don’t have to be tall to dominate. With the wide receiver corps Pittsburgh has, Brown is sure to draw the opposition’s best cornerback every week. And it is a challenge that he relishes.

And whether he is split out wide or in the slot, running a drag route or a go, you can expect his best. Lightning-quick acceleration, crisp routes and dependable hands. As of now, Brown has positioned himself near the top of every major statistical category for a wide receiver. Luke D's tweet containing stats illustrates that:

"

Steelers WR Antonio Brown has 29 catches for 427 yds and 5 TDs in 4 games this season -via SportsCenter http://t.co/y3cmZma1kj

— Luke D (@Pooderstadt) September 28, 2014"

These numbers put Brown on pace to haul in 112 receptions, 1,708 yards and 16 touchdowns. Oh, and did I mention that Brown also broke a record in Sunday’s game? NFL.com's Gil Brandt also shares some noteworthy stats:

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Antonio Brown keeps NFL-record streak alive of games with at least 5 catches, 50 yards. Extends it to 20 straight. Has 7-131-2 so far today

— Gil Brandt (@Gil_Brandt) September 28, 2014"

Just another passage in the 2014 story of Brown. No matter how this season ends, you just can’t say enough good things about all that Brown does for this team. I have a ton of respect for the top wide receivers in the league, but there isn’t one I’d trade Brown for right now. Brown is the picture of consistency, and in a league with so many "bad" guys, Brown is a genuine good guy as well.

However, no matter how many catches Brown gets this season, his most memorable moment will remain this one.

This is Pittsburgh!