BenJarvus Green-Ellis, The Man of the Hour In Cincinnati
By Mel Payne
Nov 25, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis (42) carries the ball during the first quarter of the game against the Oakland Raiders at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-US PRESSWIRE
The Bengals running back did it again! For two games in a row BenJarvus Green-Ellis has managed to break one hundred yards rushing, after lackluster performances in the first nine games of the season. The running back appears to have hit his stride and just when the team needs it the most.
Two weeks ago in Kansas City, The Law Firm opened up for the first time in the season and ran for 101 yards in the victory over the Chiefs. He outdid that breakout performance on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders when he ran for 129 yards, aiding his team in a blowout of the silver and black. He even managed a career-best dash from scrimmage for 48 yards on the third play of the game for the Bengals.
In the first nine games, BJGE averaged just 59.7 yards per game on the ground. His best performance leading up to the Kansas City matchup in week 11, was the first game of the season when he rushed for 91 yards in the loss to the Baltimore Ravens. After that matchup, the running back never brushed up against one-hundred yards again.
Now with just five games left in the 2012 regular season and his team poised for an AFC Wild Card berth for the first time in back to back seasons, Green-Ellis is averaging 115 rushing yards per game in his past two matchups. The running back has broken out of his slump and is ready to carry his team on the ground. That is something that he hasn’t been able to do so far this season.
With the running game shaping up nicely on the legs of BenJarvus Green-Ellis, the pressure has been lifted from the arm of Andy Dalton. The team has been able to play a more complete game on offense, outscoring teams 93-29 in their past three outings. Though the first nine weeks waiting for the rushing game to catch up was frustrating for fans, the breakout performance of the past two weeks has been well worth the wait.