Bengals running back Chase Brown went over the combined 1,000-yard mark for the second straight season last weekend and took a break from his twin roles to lunch (cheeseburger) with Bengals.com senior writer Geoff Hobson at his locker Wednesday in this week's conversation.

Brown, still one of the hottest players in the NFL despite getting his streak of combined 100-yard games snapped in Buffalo, talked about the biggest improvements in the run game, how good the offensive line has been, how fatherhood has impacted his game, and triplets.

The Conversation

GH: You're at 5.4 yards per rush in the last seven games. Only Jahmyr Gibbs (6.7), De'Von Achane (6.3) and Jonathan Taylor (5.7) have more yards per and more carries.

CB: I think it's a huge tribute to the O-line and the way I think they're showing up every week. I mean, if they give us running lanes, we're going to find them. And I think that's been the biggest thing, Especially from early in the season, I think, all together, we're just kind of all on the same page on what we want to accomplish in the run game.

GH: What about that great push for the first touchdown last week in Buffalo? You just put your head down and drove the pile in from the 5. Had to be one of the great plays of your career.

CB: It was definitely a cool moment. We were gapped out. Kind of didn't have the footing of really bouncing, like, I really wanted to bounce it and challenge the corner, or whoever it was. But I felt like I didn't have the footing. So, I went to go look back in, and I'm like, screw it. Let's go, let's just dive in there. There was help from them (the O-line). Everybody's pushing the pile, and I'm running my feet, and we got hands on.

GH: I think this is the best that the offensive line has played under head coach Zac Taylor. You didn't get here until '23. Is it the best since you've played here?

CB: Definitely, definitely. I just think overall offense. Run game, pass game. I think we all know what we want to accomplish. And when you put it all together, it looks like how it's been right now. We're giving Joe (Burrow) time. Running backs are stoning every plug or whatever comes. They're (the O-Line) making unbelievable decisions on passing off.

OB (left tackle Orlando Brown Jr.) picked up a corner blitz last game. It was a weird look, but he and the guard (Dylan Fairchild) were able to sort out to that. That's really impressive. They're operating at a high level. We're operating at a high level. And when that all comes together, it's what you see right now.

GH: What do you think was the biggest change in the run game from the offseason that's helped?

CB: I think double teams. Super thick double teams. More downhill.

GH: Is there one thing about your game that's better than it was last year?

CB: I think overall my game is better than it was last year. I watch film from last year, and I'm like, turn it off, I don't even want to look at it. That's literally how I feel.

GH: Because it's so bad?

CB: Well, I don't think it's bad. I think I'm just better this year in a lot of areas, especially protection. I feel really confident in that area. And then running the ball is running the ball. I feel like anybody can run the ball in the NFL. Like any running back, you know what I mean?

I'm playing with more patience and tempo. And I'm really seeing what's in front of me and trying to manipulate linebackers and finding lanes off of that.

GH: The snow last week didn't bother you.

CB: No, I hate the snow. I never want to play in the snow again. I really never, ever want to again.

GH: But you grew up in it about two and a half hours away (in London, Ont., about 140 miles from Buffalo).

CB: Yeah, I grew up in it. But these cleats right here, the bottoms of them, you look at them, they're not meant for snow getting caught up under them. It was like skates out there at some point.

GH: You must have played in the snow in high school.

CB: Not like that. I did, but the field was cleared. I've never been in a game where they don't clear the snow out. They could have easily taken all the snow off the field. They had blowers clearing out the hashes. Let's clear up the field. None of you guys have enough shovels for that. Should be a league rule, honestly.

GH: This is your first year with Samaje Perine in the running backs room. How has he helped you?

CB: Samaje has played in the league nine years, so I think watching him and the way that he operates, and just being around him, it's been awesome. He brings great energy to the room. He's also really physical as a player, so I've been trying to kind of take that on myself.

GH: It's that something you picked up from him?

CB: Definitely. The physicality.

GH: Anything else?

CB: Maybe some parenting things here and there. I think he and his wife and their family, they operate really well. And Jazz and I talk about that sometimes. We went out trick-or-treating one time. They have three kids, and we have one son, and they just made it look easy. We've got one. We were pretty good, but we were talking about it. If you have more than one, we're outnumbered. They make it look easy.

GH: It helps they're a little older. Your guy is about 11 months.

CB: No doubt. No doubt.

GH: How is fatherhood affecting you as a player? This is your first season as a dad.

CB: In a positive way. I have a really good partner who takes on a lot. Jazmyn takes on a lot. I make sure that she has help whenever she can. But I think having my son has been the biggest blessing ever. Just seeing him develop. He's walking now. It's just, it's just so much fun seeing him do his thing.

GH: What's the most amazing thing you've seen him do?

CB: Just his curiosity. He's so confident. He doesn't need us to tell him what to do, or we don't need to set him up in a place to play. He's willing to explore anywhere, all over the kitchen, open drawers, pull stuff out. Just watching him and seeing how curious he is, and seeing how quickly, he's been developing. I think that's been the most awesome thing.

GH: Does your mother say he reminds him of you and your twin Sydney?

CB: He's like our triplet. If my brother and I had a triplet, he'd be the triplet. I've got a picture. I don't know where I put my phone. It's somewhere. But, yeah, he's always running around.

GH: Why did you name him Oceanz?

CB: We were kind of contemplating more traditional names and one day, just in the car, and we were like, 'Oceans. Like Oceanz. Oceanz Brown.' It just kind of stuck.

GH: Does he help you put it into perspective?

CB: I think so. I think with my son, you kind of realize, at least with myself, I kind of realized how blessed I am to be able to provide for him. And I start thinking ahead even more. Signing up college accounts.

GH: You're already doing that?

CB: Starting right away. Making sure he's set up for life, as well as my family.

GH: Do you still wake up and do your routine? Write down the routine the night before?

CB: Every day. It's on my mirror.

GH: How has Oceanz added to that?

CB: Well, he's not really part of my morning routine. But when I get home, I always make sure that I give myself 10 minutes, and then I go and spend as much time with him as I can.

GH: What do you do for those 10 minutes?

CB: Sometimes, I feel like when you get home just after a long day, you just need 10 minutes to kind of chill and kind of rest your mind for a sec, and then continue with what you're doing. I'll sit down on the couch. I'll say what's up to Jazz. I'll give him a hug for a second. I just chill for 10 minutes, and then go help out however I can help out.

GH: Congratulations on 1,000 (1,026) scrimmage yards.

CB: Oh really? I didn't even know.

GH: Do you have any kind of numerical goal? Individual goal for the season?

CB: I do I do. I'll tell you in four, five weeks, or however long the season goes. I'll tell you.