Best of the Rest:
9. AJ Brown’s 4th Quarter Catch vs Buccaneers: Watch here
Situationally speaking, this might have been one of the most important touchdown grabs of Brown’s rookie campaign. Came late in the fourth quarter, gave the Titans a lead, and eventually proved to be the game-winning score. But stylistically, there’s not much to write home about. Easy catch on a good short throw, no signature run after the catch or broken tackles. But any Titans touchdown is a touchdown worth celebrating, even without the flair.
8. AJ Brown’s 1st Quarter Catch vs Texans (Week 17): Watch here
You look at this catch in the box score and think to yourself “damn, classic AJ Brown at it again.” A 51-yard touchdown grab off a short pass has all the makings on paper to be another stellar Brown highlight, but most of what happens after Brown secures the ball is just… kind of underwhelming. Brown does a great job to create separation on his route and to stay in bounds after getting shoved immediately after the catch, but he essentially only needs to jog the remaining 40 yards to the endzone. Blame the Texans soft defense for this touchdown being kind of boring.
7. AJ Brown’s Second 1st Quarter Catch vs Falcons: Watch here
Another play that lacks Brown’s after the catch spark, but here he makes up for it with some mastery before the catch. He’s not able to blow past the coverage on such a short route, but he is able to separate just enough at just the right moment with what I’ll call a “technically legal playful shove” of a Falcons defensive back. Brown caps off his before the catch skill with an impressive toe-drag in the corner of the endzone.
6. AJ Brown’s Second 2nd Quarter Catch vs Raiders: Watch here
The touchdowns are nothing but bangers from this point on, folks. Coming in a tied game with AFC Wild Card implications, Brown catches a short pass and breaks not one, but two tackles on his way to the goal line, where he drags another Raiders’ defender the rest of the way to give the Titans a 21-14 lead. Titans’ fans know well of Brown’s speed and elusiveness in the open field, but his strength his where the receiver truly stands apart.