Steelers' Antonio Brown joins rare company with two long first-quarter TD catches

The Miami Dolphins’ defensive game plan was clear coming into their wild-card game against the Pittsburgh Steelers: They had to stop the big play. A mere eight minutes in, that game plan went to heck.

Antonio Brown took a short catch and turned it into a 50-yard touchdown less than three minutes into the game for a 7-0 Steelers lead. Don’t overlook the nice downfield block made by tight end Jesse James, but the tackling was also terrible in the Dolphins’ shorthanded secondary.

It was the start of Dolphins head coach Adam Gase’s nightmare scenario in the franchise’s first playoff appearance in eight seasons, one that ended in a 30-12 defeat.

Then Brown did it again — only longer. He carved up the Dolphins’ secondary for a 62-yard score, with more bad tackling. Ouch.

Brown, who finished with five catches for 124 yards, joined some rare company with that second TD — just over halfway through the first quarter. CBS announced during the broadcast that he became only the second player in the past 20 years to have two first-quarter receiving touchdowns, joining — of all people — Robert Ferguson. More statistical greatness:

It was overall a miserable day, too, for Dolphins defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who is a candidate for the Denver Broncos’ head-coaching job. Miami also surrendered 167 yards rushing to Le’Veon Bell.

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Eric Edholm is a writer for Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at edholm@yahoo-inc.com or follow him on Twitter!

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