Photo courtesy: Perry Knotts/NFL
Canadian running back Chase Brown had plenty to be thankful for on American Thanksgiving, as he etched his name into the Cincinnati Bengals’ franchise record book.
Brown rushed 15 times for 78 yards and added seven receptions for 35 yards in the Bengals’ 32-14 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Thursday night, giving him 113 yards from scrimmage on the afternoon. That marked the sixth straight game in which the native of London, Ont., had surpassed the 100-yard mark, a feat never before achieved in the franchise’s 58 years of existence.
The 25-year-old began his streak on Thursday, October 16, when he rushed for a season-high 108 yards in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He successfully sustained his pace through losses to the New York Jets, Chicago Bears, Steelers, and New England Patriots before breaking the record in the holiday game.
The third-year back from the University of Illinois has been one of the few bright spots in a difficult 4-8 campaign for the Bengals. He has now carried the ball 145 times for 626 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while catching 57 passes for 252 yards and another major.
Four players are tied for second in Bengals’ history with five-game streaks of over 100 yards: running back Cedric Benson from 2008 to 2009, running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis in 2012, receiver A.J. Green in 2013, and Brown himself last season.
Brown’s streak is the longest active one in the NFL, though he still has a considerable way to go if he wants to challenge the all-time league record. That was set at a whopping 17 games by Los Angeles Raiders running back Marcus Allen over the course of the 1985 and 1986 seasons. Marcus is the older brother of Canadian Football Hall of Fame quarterback Damon Allen.
The Bengals will return to action on Sunday, December 7, when they’ll face the Buffalo Bills. Before defending his streak at Highmark Stadium, Brown will reportedly travel to Philadelphia overnight, where he’ll watch his twin brother, Sydney, and the Eagles take on the Chicago Bears on Friday, November 28, at 3:00 p.m. EST.