CLEVELAND — Running back Nick Chubb had a featured role in the Cleveland Browns’ offense over the second half of the 2018 regular season, and in Sunday’s 40-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, he resumed his impactful ways.
On only 20 carries, Chubb rushed for 165 yards and three touchdowns, including two third-quarter scores and an 88-yard scamper in the fourth quarter. As Chubb hustled down the field for the 88-yard touchdown, the second longest run of his Browns career, all his teammates could do was marvel.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said. “I think the offensive line played great and you see some of the plays that … I’m not sure which touchdown it was, the one where he made a bunch of people miss … [The line] just opened up a hole for him and he went and made a play.”
Early in the fourth quarter, the Browns faced a first-and-15 from their own 12-yard line after a false start penalty against tight end Demetrius Harris.
Not deterred by the penalty, Chubb caught a pitch from Mayfield, hustled through a hole created by the right side of the line and tight end Pharaoh Brown and raced 88 yards untouched for the touchdown.
Although the Browns failed to convert the two-point attempt, they held a 30-18 lead over the Ravens with 9:35 to play in regulation.
“Nick will be the first one to tell you that the offensive line blocked up front,” Browns coach Freddie Kitchens said.
“There were some creases in there, and Nick was able to get through. He did a hell of a job. He broke that one out when we were backed up a little bit. That was a huge play in the game. The touchdown he scored in the red zone was a huge play in the game. Nick’s a great football player.”
Mayfield added, “He can roll. I think people underestimate his speed. Once he gets to that second level, he’s got true break-away speed. People say he’s a power back, which he is, it takes more than one guy to bring him down, but he’s got that speed to make a play like that.”
Following Chubb’s 88 yard run, fans at M&T Bank Stadium started to head to the exits as the Browns were in the midst of a 16-point fourth quarter.
“Our job as an offense is to answer,” Kitchens said. “We had an answer, and it just happened to be in one play. The play was blocked excellently, and Nick finished it. What can I say? They did a hell of a job. Our guys committed this week to doing whatever it took to win their matchups. I think we did a good job of that.”
Mayfield added, “That takes the momentum out of someone. I think that’s something we did very well -- not letting the crowd play a factor in our play -- and just doing our job.”