Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown is one of the best football players in the world. He'll have the chance to demonstrate that on one of the biggest stages this Sunday, when he plays against the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game. That chance almost didn't come to be, though, because coach Mike Tomlin had the chance to discipline the star for committing a locker room faux pas just a week ago.

An egregious error

When the Steelers went into the chilly Kansas City locker room last weekend following their win over the Chiefs, they were delirious.

It was a hard-fought game they won despite not scoring a single touchdown. They were excited, but the team didn't have much time to celebrate with the AFC Championship Game around the corner.

In the locker room, Tomlin delivered a private message to the team about what he wanted them to do to prepare for the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers were to clamp down, focus on preparation, and stay off social media as much as possible. While he was delivering these remarks, Brown was on social media, posing for a Facebook Live stream that was picking up the speech in the background.

Pittsburgh and Tomlin were furious. The coach came out with scathing remarks towards Brown, who became the butt of jokes around the nation.

Still, Tomlin said he wasn't going to punish the team for his receiver's stupidity, so Brown was to stay in the lineup for the AFC Championship Game.

A shot at redemption

At the end of the day, the Steelers are going to need Brown in the AFC Championship Game. The Patriots have the best scoring defense in the NFL, one without any real stars that manages to bend, but never quite break.

Brown finished the year second in receiving yards and touchdown passes, fourth in receiving yards per game, and fifth in receiving yards. He's the favorite target of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and a superstar in his own right.

The game on Sunday will be a chance for him to redeem himself -- especially if he helps his team clinch a ticket to the Super Bowl.