Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase joins elite group of rookie WRs statistically

Explosive Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase has joined Randy Moss in an exclusive group of rookie wideouts.

Although the Cincinnati Bengals lost to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday after rallying furiously to force overtime, the game did feature a landmark feat by one of the Bengals’ young stars.

Rookie wideout Ja’Marr Chase eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in the fourth quarter, topping the mark in his team’s 13th game of the season.

The Bengals offense had difficulty moving the ball through the first three quarters, but Cincinnati began to make progress in the final period and overcame a 14-point deficit.

Similarly, Chase only had two catches for 15 yards in the first three quarters. But in the fourth, he caught three passes for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

Obviously, Chase wasn’t seeing the ball much early in the game. In fact, one of his catches was intended for another receiver. As you can see in the clip below, Chase made the reception off a deflection as he continued his route and kept his eyes downfield.

On a fourth-and-5 from the Niners’ 17-yard line in the fourth quarter, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow evaded a sack to extend the play and spotted Chase in the back of the end zone after he beat 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga.

Somehow Chase kept his feet in bounds and made a beautiful catch to make it a one-score game.

The Bengals later began a drive on their own 13-yard line in the final minutes of regulation. They marched downfield and capped a seven-play drive with another Burrow-to-Chase connection.

Burrow noticed Chase one-on-one against rookie cornerback Ambry Thomas, with only one safety over the top to help.

Burrow threw an absolute dime to Chase, who reeled in the ball and burst into the end zone for his 10th touchdown catch of the season.

That put him in lofty company alongside Odell Beckham Jr., Mike Evans, Randy Moss and John Jefferson as the only rookie receivers to record 1,000 yards and 10 touchdown receptions since the NFL-AFL merger.

This performance certainly will bolster Chase’s case for the Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He ranks fifth in the NFL with 1,035 yards, and six of his 10 touchdowns have come on receptions of 30-plus yards. He also sits among the league leaders by averaging 17.5 yards per reception.

Despite the loss, the Bengals (7-6) remain in the hunt for playoffs, and they almost certainly will rely heavily on Chase down the stretch.