It’s no secret the Cleveland Browns have one of the best NFL’s running back duos in Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.
NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks ranked the Browns’ tandem as No. 2 among the league’s top five Batman and Robin duos.
“It is rare for a team to feature a pair of backs with the potential to claim the league’s rushing title, but the Browns could put Chubb or Hunt on the podium by the end of the season,” Brooks wrote.
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Brooks pointed to Chubb finishing second in the NFL in rushing in 2019 with 1,494 yards and rushing for 1,067 yards last year despite missing four games.
In 2017, Hunt led the NFL in rushing with 1,327 yards.
Hunt ran for 841 yards during the 2020 season.
“Considering the individual and collective skills of the Browns’ running back tandem, it is hard to find a better combination in any NFL backfield,” Brooks wrote.
Chubb and Hunt could look to each surpass 1,000 yards rushing during the 2021 season, especially with a 17-game regular season.
There have been seven NFL teams that have had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season:
- 2019 Baltimore Ravens: Lamar Jackson 1,206 yards and Mark Ingram 1,018 yards
- 2009 Carolina Panthers: Jonathan Stewart 1,133 yards and DeAngelo Williams 1,117 yards
- 2008 New York Giants: Brandon Jacobs 1,089 yards and Derrick Ward 1,025 yards
- 2006 Atlanta Falcons: Warrick Dunn 1,140 yards and Michael Vick 1,039 yards
- 1985 Cleveland Browns: Kevin Mack 1,104 yards and Earnest Byner 1,002 yards
- 1976 Pittsburgh Steelers: Franco Harris 1,128 yards and Rocky Bleier 1,036 yards
- 1972 Miami Dolphins: Larry Csonka 1,117 yards and Mercury Morris 1,000 yards
The Kansas City Chiefs duo of receiver Tyreek Hill and tight end Travis Kelce topped Brooks’ list, which also featured defensive duos.
Ravens cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters ranked third, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebackers Lavonte David and Devin White ranked fourth.
Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald and outside linebacker Leonard Floyd rounded out Brooks’ list.
“The challenge of dealing with a pair of blue-chip players within a position group creates headaches for opposing coaches attempting to craft game plans that neutralize the opponent’s primary weapon while also containing the elite complementary player,” Brooks wrote.
Other notable duos that missed Brooks’ list: Minnesota’s Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson; New Orleans’ Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara; Seattle’s D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett; Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans and Chris Godwin; and the Tennessee trifecta of A.J. Brown, Julio Jones and Derrick Henry.
It’s worth noting that Brooks’ list did not include quarterbacks.
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