The Cincinnati Bengals, over the last two weeks, have begun to have some fun again. After some concerning comments from Joe Burrow, the Bengals' offense has lit up the scoreboard over the last few weeks.
While their blowout over the Miami Dolphins was impressive, one of the more stunning plays came against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 17, when offensive lineman Cody Ford caught a shallow route and ran 21 yards down the field.
NFL senior researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming shared that this reception from Ford made NFL history. Not just that it was an incredible play and will be remembered for a long time, but that Ford's 21-yard scamper sets a new benchmark for lineman touches from scrimmage.
Bengals' Cody Ford sets 'heaviest' NFL history
"Cody Ford, listed at 345 pounds, is the heaviest player in NFL history to have a 20+ yard play from scrimmage," Koplowitz-Fleming notes.
Ford's 21-yard reception is the first time that someone of his size has ever gained 21 yards from scrimmage on a play in NFL history.
There have been a lot of big-man plays in NFL history, but a lot come on kick returns or defensive turnovers. And when it comes to offensive linemen or defensive linemen getting involved on offense, it's typically at the goal line.
Most teams would bring in the extra offensive lineman as a receiver inside the five-yard line to run a shallow route and score a touchdown on a trick play.
This one, where Ford catches the ball in the flat and then turns upfield, breaking through a tackle, is one for the ages.
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Of the many "big-man" plays in NFL history, this play from Ford, a 21-yard reception, is one of the best by far.
While he didn't score a touchdown, he set the Bengals up well inside the red zone, all the way down at the two-yard line.
No player in NFL history has ever been as big as Ford, 345 pounds, and gotten 20+ yards from scrimmage. Most linemen will never have such a chance, let alone any opportunity to make a play, regardless of where it is on the field.
But Ford, hauling in this shallow pass in the flats, turned in one of the most exciting "big-man" plays in NFL history with a record-setting 21-yard reception in Week 17.
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