Chase Brown’s Breakout Continues as Bengals Back Makes Franchise History in Win Over Dolphins
The Cincinnati Bengals may not be heading to the postseason this year, but don’t tell Chase Brown that the final weeks don’t matter. The second-year running back is making every snap count - and on Sunday in Miami, he turned in a performance that etched his name into the Bengals’ record books.
In a 45-24 win over the Dolphins, Brown became the first player in Bengals history to rack up at least two receiving touchdowns and one rushing touchdown in a single game. And he did it all in one quarter - a third-quarter explosion that showcased just how dynamic he’s become in this offense.
Brown finished the day with 66 yards on 12 carries and added four catches for 43 yards through the air. That’s 109 total yards from scrimmage - the seventh time in the last nine games he’s crossed the century mark.
After a quiet start to the year, Brown has turned into a legitimate dual-threat weapon, and the numbers back it up: over the last nine games, he’s averaging 102.3 yards from scrimmage. That’s the kind of production that puts you in elite company - and in Brown’s case, it’s put him on pace to flirt with James Brooks’ single-season franchise record of 1,773 yards set back in 1986.
“He’s a huge weapon for us,” head coach Zac Taylor said postgame. “He’s explosive, and he’s a tough matchup in the passing game.
He probably doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is on those choice routes underneath. Today, he caught a touchdown on a clear-out concept against a linebacker - and that’s the kind of matchup we love.”
Taylor isn’t the only one taking notice. Joe Burrow, who had himself a day with 309 yards and four touchdowns on 25-of-32 passing, praised Brown’s development - especially in the passing game.
“We’ve been able to put two backs on the field because we feel good about Samaje [Perine] and obviously Chase,” Burrow said. “It makes defenses think.
If I’m a linebacker, I don’t want to be in space trying to cover Chase Brown. He’s worked to become that guy.
His first year, I don’t think he caught a single ball in practice. Now?
He’s catching everything.”
That growth has been critical for a Bengals offense that’s had to evolve as the season’s gone on. With defenses zeroing in on Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Brown has become a key piece in keeping the offense balanced and unpredictable. He’s averaging 17.3 touches per game this season, with 197 rushing attempts and 62 receptions - a workload that reflects just how much trust this coaching staff has in him.
And while the Bengals’ playoff hopes are off the table, Brown isn’t just playing out the string. He’s building momentum - both for himself and for a team that’s still fighting to end the year on a high note.
“When everything is firing on all cylinders, we’re going to score a lot of points,” Brown said. “It felt good to score, but at the end of the day, it’s just about building momentum. Even though our season isn’t ending the way we wanted, we can still finish strong.”
Make no mistake - Chase Brown is no longer just a complementary piece. He’s emerging as a cornerstone of this Bengals offense, and if this late-season surge is any indication, Cincinnati may have found its next star in the backfield.