Naylor: Brown brothers will make a dream come true in Sunday’s showdown

chase and Sydney Brown They have done almost everything together throughout their lives.

From being born minutes apart, to being raised by their single mother in London, Ontario, and sharing a soccer journey that has taken them from the local fields to the University of Illinois and the National Football League.

The only thing they have never done is face each other in a football match at any level, something that will happen for the first time when the Sydney Philadelphia Eagles visit to chase Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

For Chase, a running back who leads the Bengals in rushing yards, and Sydney, a safety who just returned last week from an ACL injury in January, this is a major development.

“We’ve never played against each other, so it will be interesting,” Chase said. “He’s living his dream in Philadelphia and I’m living my dream here. It all comes full circle and we compete for four quarters and see what comes of it.”

While Sunday’s game is not without meaning for the Eagles and Bengals, there is plenty of additional meaning for the Browns, who have dreamed of this moment since they were kids.

“When I got drafted (in 2023), I knew we were going to play the Bengals this year,” Sydney said. “It was one of the first things I looked at after my brother was drafted in Cincinnati.

“I’m excited… what an opportunity. Thinking about me and my brother when we were kids, then and now, being able to face each other on a professional soccer field, on no higher stage. “It’s going to be different… you look across the field and this guy I was on the side of my whole life is now someone I have to go up against.”

The Browns grew up in modest surroundings in London and eventually finished their last two years of high school in Bradenton, Florida, before Chase moved to Western Michigan University while Sydney went to Illinois.

Although they spent a year apart before Chase moved to join his brother in Champagne, Illinois, their respective teams never faced each other.

Once reunited in Illinois, head coach Bret Bielema quickly decided not to let them face each other in practice because of the intensity they brought on each other when he did.

“It was definitely a real thing,” Sydney recalled. “I mean, we used to get to that. There were times when we were completely throwing, and it became like a UFC game in the backfield because we have one-on-one pass rush and it’s me and him. “I think Bielema learned early on that it was probably not a good idea.”

As competitive as the Browns may be against each other, it doesn’t compare to the mutual respect and closeness they share, something that has continued throughout their time in the NFL.

“That’s my best friend, man,” Chase said. We talk every day to stay up to date, learn about each other’s lives and be present. Try to keep it as normal as possible.”

However, maintaining normality has been a challenge this week, where their talks have been brief and they managed to stay away from the topic of football.

“The conversations are quick,” Sydney said. “Like, ‘Hey, how was your day?’ Boom. You know, sign up and move on.”

Sunday’s game comes at a time when both brothers feel good about the direction of their young careers.

Chase, who was a veteran. Joe MixonThe primary backup during his rookie season, he has gone from splitting backfield reps with Zach Moss at the start of the season to suffering most of the decay of late, leading the team with 327 rushing yards. He also has 14 receptions for 59 yards and four touchdowns, one in the air and three on the ground.

After waiting until the fifth round to hear his name called despite being the second-best running back in college football in 2022, Chase quickly earned the trust of his coaches and teammates.

“I’m not surprised at all,” Sydney said. “He deserves everything that comes his way. People say, ‘Your brother is doing amazing,’ and I say, man, if you saw the way he worked this offseason and the way he approached this whole process, you wouldn’t be surprised either. “I’m excited for him.”

Sydney’s impressive rookie season in 2023 was cut short during the regular season finale last January when he suffered a torn ACL in a game against the Giants.

He made his season debut last week, but insists he could have played from the start of the season if the team had allowed him to. Instead, the Eagles staff held him back to protect him from himself.

“That guy crushed it,” Chase said. “That guy killed it, absolutely killed it. And to think he could have returned in Week 1. In what? …Eight months? “It’s crazy.”

Sydney approached his rehab with the same vision he had when he started football with his NFL dream fully focused: seeing every challenge as an opportunity and every setback as a means to overcome and improve.

There was never any doubt he would be ready for this game, which the brothers will share with a group of family and friends in attendance.

“It’s always been on our minds,” Sydney said. “It’s always been something we were drawn to, it was always something we were motivated to do… and now it’s here.”