CLEVELAND — If there was any question about Nick Chubb being just a power back, one built for short-yardage situations, the Cleveland Browns’ second-year standout rusher answered it with just one carry in Sunday’s 40-25 victory over the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
Early in the fourth quarter, Chubb broke free for an 88-yard score, and according to NextGen Stats, he reached a speed of 21.95 miles per hour, which was the highest speed of any NFL player on a touchdown run this season.
“He’s an unbelievable player,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said following the game. “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.
“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.”
Chubb helped the Browns out of a jam with the touchdown rush, as they 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.
“He is a very patient runner, but he is a home run hitter,” center JC Tretter said. “We go into the week knowing if we block up our runs, he is going to find the hole and take it the distance. It is great having him back there.
“He is also very smart in pass protection and very smart in the scheme that we are trying to put out there in the run game. He has grown a lot in the last year. He is a true pro. He works hard and studies hard. He is a great player for us.”
Ironically, Chubb’s 88-yard touchdown run and 165-yard, three-touchdown performance in the game came against the very team who kept him from surpassing the 1,000-yard mark during his rookie season, as a late negative carry in Week 17 dipped him just below the benchmark for 2018.
But rather than sulk about it, Chubb put in the work during the offseason program and training camp and had a breakout game against the Ravens.
“He is quiet and keeps to himself, but is always working,” Tretter said. “You love having those guys on your team.”
Browns coach Freddie Kitchens added, “Nick exemplifies everything you do from the standpoint of how you practice and how you finish runs. He did what he does, and that is finish the run.”