The Cincinnati Bengals are cautiously optimistic that rookie sensation Chase Brown will be available for their season-defining Week 18 clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brown, who has emerged as one of the NFL’s most dynamic young playmakers, suffered a sprained ankle in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s overtime victory against the Denver Broncos.
For a Bengals squad that looked dead in the water at midseason, Brown’s meteoric rise has fueled an improbable four-game winning streak to thrust them right back into the thick of the AFC playoff picture. But with their postseason aspirations hanging in the balance, Cincinnati may have to forge ahead without the engine powering their resurgent offense.
A Late-Season Savior
When the Bengals lost veteran running back Zack Moss to a season-ending neck injury in Week 12, their ground game appeared to be on life support. Enter Chase Brown. The second-year speedster out of Maryland seized his opportunity and hasn’t looked back, ranking 8th in the NFL in yards from scrimmage (536) since taking over the starting role in Week 13.
“I think Chase Brown is a special player. I think he’s got a bright, bright future in this league as one of the top backs, really, in anything you ask him to do.”
– Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher
Brown’s electrifying production has taken the pressure off franchise quarterback Jake Browning and given opposing defenses fits. With their newfound offensive balance and identity, the Bengals have clawed their way back from a 4-8 hole to control their own playoff destiny.
Next Man Up Mentality
While Brown optimistically proclaimed his ankle issue was nothing new, the Bengals are weighing contingency plans in case their workhorse can’t answer the bell on Saturday. Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher expressed confidence in backup Khalil Herbert’s ability to shoulder the load if called upon:
“There’s a chance [Herbert] could play a little bit of a bigger role and we’re comfortable with that. We look forward to what Khalil can bring for us.”
– Dan Pitcher
The former Bears draft pick has proven himself a capable spot starter and change-of-pace option. Cincinnati will lean on Herbert to keep their rejuvenated rushing attack afloat and exploit a vulnerable Steelers run defense should Brown be limited or unavailable.
A Season on the Brink
At 8-8, the Bengals have little margin for error in their win-and-in regular season finale. To punch their postseason ticket, they’ll not only need to take care of business against Pittsburgh, but also get some help from a pair of fellow AFC bubble teams in the Broncos and Dolphins.
- Bengals clinch playoff berth with:
- – Win vs. Steelers
- – Broncos loss vs. Chiefs
- – Dolphins loss vs. Bills
The gravity of this moment is not lost on a Bengals squad that’s already endured a season’s worth of adversity. From Browning’s uneven acclimation to the starting role to a spate of injuries on both sides of the ball, this resilient group has found a way to weather every storm and give themselves a chance heading into Week 18.
A Star is Born
Win or lose, the 2024 Bengals will be remembered as the Chase Brown Coming Out Party. The unheralded 2023 third-round pick has firmly entrenched himself as the centerpiece of Cincinnati’s offense and a bona fide star in the making. If he’s able to once again thwart the odds and lead this improbable Bengals surge to its Hollywood ending, his place in franchise lore will already be secure before the calendar even flips to 2025.
