On the first play after the two-minute warning in Sunday night’s game at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, the Cincinnati Bengals seemingly only needed a first down against the New York Giants defense to put the game away.

On the second and third periods, as Cincinnati defended its 10-7 lead, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow handed the ball to running back Chase Brown, who gave his team what it needed – and more.

Brown, who played for Illinois from 2019 to 2022 and is now in his second season with the Bengals, ripped the ball out of Burrow’s hands, waited patiently for a lead block from tight end Drew Sample, then made a subtle cut and ripped through the ball up the middle and past the Giants’ second base – to the goal line.

The 30-yard strike extended the Bengals’ lead to 10, iced the game and kept the 2-4 Bengals’ faint playoff hopes alive.

Brown finished the game with 10 carries for 53 yards and the score. After again outplaying Zack Moss (6 carries for 13 yards), who began this season as Cincy’s lead back, Brown should get his chance to take on a tougher task.

That shouldn’t be a problem for Brown, who was a workhorse All-American for the Illini before being drafted in the fifth round by Cincinnati last year. His average yards per carry in 2024 (5.5) is among the top 10 in the league, and Week 7 should be as good as any to test his place in the Bengals’ backfield with a matchup against the surging Cleveland Browns to consolidate.