The Chase Brown Factor Is In Full Effect
Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown scores a touchdown in the first quarter during a Week 14 NFL game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
When given an opportunity, taking advantage of it is something that can make or break a career. Over his last two games, Cincinnati Bengals rookie running back Chase Brown is making sure he isn’t going anywhere.
The 2023 5th-round pick out of the University of Illinois sparked the Bengals’ offense Sunday. With exceptional quickness and extraordinary breakaway speed, Brown gave the Bengals an early jolt when he took a screen pass from Jake Browning 54 yards to pay dirt, leaving several Indianapolis Colts defenders in his wake.
The score gave the Bengals an early 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter and Brown played a role the rest of the game. He did most of his damage in the passing game, leading the Bengals with three catches for 80 yards and his score. But he also carried the ball eight times for 25 yards.
“He’s done a great job controlling what he can control,” Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said after Cincinnati’s 34-14 win over Indianapolis. “When he came back off the injury, he’s shown great attention to detail as a rookie with what we’re asking him to handle. He makes plays when his number is called.”
In Brown’s first four games of the season, he tallied just five touches for 13. In the two games since returning from the injured reserve, he’s carried the ball 17 times for 86 yards, averaging just over five yards per carry and then exploded in the passing game on Sunday. Not only does he present a shiftiness, but Brown possesses top-tier speed that not many players in the NFL have. He topped out at 22.05 miles per hour on his touchdown Sunday, which is the second-fastest speed in the league according to NFL’s Next Gen Stats, behind only Seattle Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, who topped out at 22.23 miles per hour last week on his 73-yard touchdown reception.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill (22.01mph)is the only other player to top 22 miles per hour this season.
“We’ve learned he is that fast,” Taylor said after the win Sunday. “We do the GPS in practice on kickoff return, things like that. He’s had opportunities to show how fast he is. Second fastest? That’s pretty good. He’s a fast guy. Real fast.”
With Brown’s emergence, the Bengals running game has taken off the past two weeks, which have both been wins.
Joe Mixon bolted for 68 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries last week and came back Sunday toting 21 carries for 79 yards and a touchdown. When asked whether or not Brown has been a motivator in the running back room, Taylor deflected but did add that the running backs are starting to come together.
“It’s a good combo we have going right now, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Most teams in the league have that,” Taylor said. “I’m pleased with the job Justin Hill continues to do with that room. He’s on it, he does a great job developing those guys. I’m pleased with what they provided us. Trayveon Williams on third downs has a role. It didn’t come up as much today, but they all have different roles. Sometimes they’re magnified, sometimes they’re not. He’s done a good job in that role too.”
With the help of a stout running game, the Bengals have hit a stride after losing their starting quarterback to a season-ending injury. With an ability to adjust their offensive attack — Bengals threw for 350 yards against Jacksonville — to what defenses are throwing at them, it seems they are in a good spot moving forward. With a duo of Mixon and Brown, the Bengals can mix things up moving forward if the rookie running back continues to produce in the backfield.
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