After years of Joe Burrow carrying the Cincinnati Bengals offense almost exclusively through the air, balance may finally be restored. And it could run straight through Chase Brown.
ESPN’s Tristan H. Cockcroft praised Brown’s value on Wednesday, noting that he “could be involved in high-scoring affairs” this season with the Bengals.
Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher wasn’t joking when asked about the third-year running back in July — calling Brown “one of the focal points” of the Bengals offense for the 2025 season.
Brown started, and finishes the camp as the clear-cut RB1 for Cincinnati. Samaje Perine returned to the Bengals on a two-year contract, giving the locker room a familiar veteran presence. Rookie Tahj Brooks rounds out the backfield as another exciting runner-receiver.
That said, none of them look poised to challenge Brown’s volume. Not after what he showed in 2024.
Why Brown Changes Bengals’ Ceiling
Already boasting one of the NFL’s most dangerous passing attacks, the Bengals have Burrow coming off a career year with 4,918 yards, 43 touchdowns and a 70.6 percent completion rate.
Ja’Marr Chase dominated the league with 127 receptions for 1,708 yards and 17 touchdowns, while Tee Higgins — still managed 911 yards and 10 scores in 12 games.
But even with those numbers, the Bengals finished just 9-8 and missed the playoffs. Why? Because the offense was one-dimensional, ranking second in dropbacks per game, 30th in rushing attempts, and had a grim defensive unit.
That’s where Brown can change the narrative in 2025.
I believe Chase Brown is a top-10 back in the league,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said, via The Associated Press. “Certainly, you don’t want to burn the guy out. You also want to make sure your most explosive players are on the field and ready to touch the ball as many times as possible.”
He keeps defenses honest, while opening up passing lanes for Burrow, Chase and Higgins that have been nonexistent in recent history.
Week 1 Outlook
The Bengals understand they could be walking into a make-or-break season. The AFC North remains strong. Burrow and Chase are in their primes. The defense is reshaping under Lou Anarumo. And now, Brown’s emergence might be the piece that tips Cincinnati back into true contender status.
Pitcher’s second season as OC should feature a more healthy blend of rushing and passing plays. Back in June, he explained how the staff has worked to build a run game identity.
“Now, it’s just different,” Pitcher said in June, per The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. “We have a lot of guys on staff that have done parts of (building a running game) at different stops in their career and so it’s kind of listening to them, really delving into it myself and trying to come up with something that really kind of complements who we are and what our engine is.”
The Bengals face the Cleveland Browns on September 7 to kick off the 2025 regular season, a division opener that comes with no shortage of weight. Cleveland’s defense, led by Myles Garrett, will immediately challenge Cincinnati’s reworked offensive line.
Analyst Says Bengals’ ‘High-Scoring’ Potential Is Major Boost for Chase Brown