On the first play after the two-minute warning in Sunday night’s game at Met Life Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, seemingly all the Cincinnati Bengals needed was a first down against the New York Giants’ defense to end the game.

On second-and-3, with Cincinnati clinging to a 10-7 lead, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow handed the ball off to running back Chase Brown, who gave his team what it needed – and then some.

Brown, who played for Illinois from 2019-22 and who is now in his second season with the Bengals, snatched the ball from Burrow’s hands, patiently waited on a lead block from tight end Drew Sample, then made a subtle cut and tore through the middle and past the Giants’ secondary untouched – all the way through the goal line.

The 30-yard burst extended the Bengals lead to 10, iced the game and kept the dim playoff hopes of the 2-4 Bengals alive. 

Brown finished with 10 carries for 53 yards and the score. After once again outplaying Zack Moss (6 carries for 13 yards), who entered this season as Cincy’s lead back, Brown should get his chance to take on a heavier load.

That should be no problem for Brown, who was an All-American workhorse runner for the Illini before being drafted in the fifth round last year by Cincinnati. His average yards per carry in 2024 (5.5) ranks among the league’s top 10 marks, and Week 7 should be as good as any to solidify his standing in the Bengals’ backfield with a matchup against the spiraling Cleveland Browns.

There’s a new sheriff in town in the Big Ten, and it’s Oregon. Or is it Penn State? Or, come to think of it, is it still Ohio State? The Buckeyes’ 32-31 loss to the Ducks in Oregon hardly settled anything.

Illinois did what it had to do in a 50-49 overtime win against lowly Purdue, and that’s not completely blow the game and ruin a promising season. Still, the Illini struggled enough to make us wonder if they really belong in the top half of the 18-team conference. For now, they’re still there.

Let’s take it from the bottom (all game times Central):

What do you call that thing the Boilermakers had for 46 whole seconds against Illinois again? Ah, yes – an actual lead.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Friday vs. Oregon (7 p.m., FOX).

How unbearably bad are the Bruins at running the ball? Even on a night when they held Minnesota to a puny total of 41 yards, they were outgained on the ground (41-36).

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday at Rutgers (11 a.m., FS1).

Getting dump-trucked by Northwestern by four touchdowns at home probably wasn’t in the plans.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. USC (3 p.m., FS1).

That 27-24 win at Maryland in Week 2 isn’t as impressive in hindsight as it originally appeared to be.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. Iowa (6:30 p.m., NBC).

Chopping? No, dropping. Anyone who thought Greg Schiano had it rolling again has to have doubts after that all-out debacle against Wisconsin.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. UCLA (11 a.m., FS1).

Who knew the Wildcats had a 37-10 smack-around of Maryland in them? That was mighty impressive.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday vs. Wisconsin (11 a.m., BTN).

After beating USC and UCLA back-to-back, the Gophers have totally gone Hollywood. OK, fine, maybe Anaheim.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Oct. 26 vs. Maryland.

A morning kickoff in Iowa City, followed by three hours of frustration and misery, was as “Welcome to the Big Ten” as it gets.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Oct. 26 at Indiana.

Luke Fickell and his staff have found something, and it’s called running the damn football as though you’re Wisconsin. It just might be crazy enough to work.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday at Northwestern (11 a.m., BTN).

The Trojans looked great against Penn State … until they petered out. It wasn’t the first time this season.

Polls: N/A.

Next up: Saturday at Maryland (3 p.m., FS1).

It’s prove-it time for the Huskers, who have yet to beat a Big Ten team with a pulse.

Polls: No. 27 AP, No 25 coaches.

Next up: Saturday at Indiana (11 a.m., FOX).

If Bret Bielema’s defense really is as soft as it looked in the second half against Purdue, a 2022-style fadeout is likely for this team.

Polls: No. 22 AP, No. 21 coaches.

Next up: Saturday vs. Michigan (2:30 p.m., CBS).

The Wolverines are on their third QB, Jack Tuttle, who’s in his seventh year of college ball. How long until he gets tenure?

Polls: No. 24 AP, No. 22 coaches.

Next up: Saturday at Illinois (2:30 p.m., CBS).

Have you looked at the Hawkeyes’ remaining schedule? It’s pretty much screaming 10-2.

Polls: No. 31 AP, No. 33 coaches.

Next up: Saturday at Michigan State (6:30 p.m., NBC).

Big one coming up for the Hoosiers, who still have their doubters. What a fun team either way.

Polls: No. 16 AP, No. 18 coaches.

Next up: Saturday vs. Nebraska (11 a.m., FOX).

The Nittany Lions just kept plugging at USC, came all the way back and got a win fit for a legit playoff contender. That’s how it’s done.

Polls: No. 3 AP, No. 3 coaches.

Next up: Oct. 26 at Wisconsin.

A one-point loss at Oregon is nothing to get too down about. Rematch in Indy, anyone?

Polls: No. 4 AP, No. 5 coaches.

Next up: Oct. 26 vs. Nebraska.

You beat the big, bad Buckeyes, you get the top spot. That’s just the way it works, people.

Polls: No. 2 AP, No. 2 coaches.

Next up: Friday at Purdue (7 p.m., FOX).

Illinois Football Climbs to No. 22 in Week 8 AP Top 25 Rankings

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Illinois vs. Purdue Football: Live Game Blog and Updates

A federal investigation into alleged corruption and embezzlement at a Chicago hospital has resulted in charges against the former Chief Executive Officer. A 45-count indictment accuses former Loretto Hospital CEO George Miller, 73, of conspiring with the hospital’s former Chief Financial Officer to corruptly steer vendor contracts and other hospital business to certain medical supply companies in exchange for cash from the companies’ owner. Three other people are charged in the case.

Bow season underway

Illinois’ archery deer season is underway, and the Department of Natural Resources is reminding hunters of key dates, regulations and safety practices for the season. Illinois’ statewide archery deer season opened Oct. 1. Archery deer season runs through Jan. 19 in counties with no firearm deer season, including Cook, DuPage, Lake, and east of Illinois 47 in Kane County. Illinois regulations allow for one deer per archery permit. No hunter, regardless of the quantity or type of permits in their possession, may harvest more than two antlered deer during a year.

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Cooler weather ahead

After a stretch of abnormal warm weather in Illinois, conditions are going to feel more like autumn this week. High temperatures will be closer to normal for the first part of the week, and some areas will see the first frost of the season. A brief warmup returns closer to the weekend.