One of Sunday's best matchups features reigning receptions leader Antonio Brown against newly signed Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, who looks to follow up an offseason full of drama with a dominating defensive performance.
Like he did with Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in a Week 15 last season, Norman will be physical against a smaller Brown. But the Steelers wideout has already been warned by his quarterback about potential mind games Norman might play to try and set him off.
“The big thing for both — they might try to play mind games with each other — I’ll talk to my guy and make sure he keeps a level head and just plays football,” Roethlisberger said, via the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
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Norman and OBJ scuffled several times back in December and the NFL suspended Beckham one game and fined Norman more than $26,000 for the incidents. With an already short depth chart of playmakers to begin the season, the Steelers can't afford to lose Brown for any games.
“AB is one of the best in the business, and so is Josh, so I think it’s a prime-time matchup,” Roethlisberger said. “Everyone will tune in to see that matchup. I think it’ll come down to if AB’s quarterback is good enough to get him the ball when he needs to.”
Although Brown and Norman are playing under new contracts this season, football fans should be getting their money's worth in the first Monday night game of the season.