Tag: Ja’Marr Chase

Ja’Marr Chase comment on Zac Taylor says it all about 2024 Bengals

Ja’Marr Chase didn’t hold back after the Bengals lost to the Chargers.

Speaking after yet another heartbreaking loss as his Cincinnati Bengals fell to 4-7, Ja’Marr Chase brought up the name of head coach Zac Taylor.

And that sort of says it all, right?

Chase did this when asked after the loss to the Los Angeles Chargers about finishing games.

“How do I do it?” Chase said, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. “I don’t know. Ask Zac. Ask the coaches. Don’t ask me. It’s not my job. I play football on the field. I don’t call plays for us. So I can’t really do nothing.”

On one hand, this is what Chase tends to do when he’s frustrated after a loss, generally deferring to the head coach on broader matters.

But on the other, it’s those broader matters that are failing the Bengals. The roster construction over the last two years has been abysmal and it’s showing up on the field.

And at this point, nobody is safe from criticism…or accountability — which explained Germaine Pratt’s sideline meltdown during the game.

If the Bengals keep losing, Chase might be on to something here. There will obviously be roster turnover, but it’s safe to reason that an overhaul of the coaching staff might be on the way, too.

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Everything to know from Chargers’ win over Bengals

Here’s our recap of the Chargers’ thrilling win over the Bengals.

What. A. Game.

The Chargers outlasted the Bengals on Sunday night, improving to 7-3.

Here’s our recap of the Week 11 win.

It was over when…

J.K. Dobbins rushed for a 29-yard touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.

Notable number

According to ESPN’s Benjamin Solak, Justin Herbert now has 15 game-winning drives in his career. Only Patrick Mahomes and Kirk Cousins have more since 2020 when Herbert entered the league.

3 stars of the game

  1. QB Justin Herbert: Herbert was lights out in the first half. While he wasn’t nearly as sharp in the second half, Herbert made two big throws on the final drive to guide the team to victory.
  2. WR Ladd McConkey: McConkey finished with 123 yards on six catches, including two big receptions on the final possession to put the Chargers in Bengals territory.
  3. RB J.K. Dobbins: Dobbins had 11 carries for 56 yards and two rushing touchdowns, including the game-winner.

Quick hits

  • Herbert delivered dime after dime in the first half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. But that same level of play didn’t carry over into the second half.
  • The Chargers could not move the ball and went three and out on half of their offensive possessions, all while the Bengals crept back to tie the game off of 21 unanswered points, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
  • The Bengals had two opportunities in the fourth quarter to take the lead, but Evan McPherson missed his go-ahead field goal attempts from 48 and 51 yards.
  • In previous years, Los Angeles would have blown that type of game (it gave me flashbacks to the playoff loss to the Jaguars). But the defense made a big stop at the end, Herbert rallied the offense with two big throws to McConkey, and Dobbins delivered the knockout punch.
  • Herbert finished the game 17-of-36 passing for 297 yards, two touchdowns, and five carries for 65 yards. While he didn’t benefit from some dropped passes, there were a few instances of him missing receivers in the second half. Herbert also lost a fumble early in the fourth quarter.
  • For the first time this season, the Chargers’ defense gave up more than 20 points. They allowed the Bengals to convert on all three of their fourth-down attempts. Cincinnati totaled 452 yards.

What’s next?

The Chargers host the Ravens next Monday night, Nov. 25, at 5:15 pm PT.

Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase connect to complete comeback vs. Chargers

The Bengals tied the game in the fourth quarter.

The Cincinnati Bengals stormed back out of a 27-6 hole to tie Sunday night’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers at 27-27 when Joe Burrow found Ja’Marr Chase for a 17-yard score.

It was an MVP-worthy drive from Burrow after his defense forced a turnover, as he escaped multiple drive-ending sacks and kept moving the chains.

Same deal on the touchdown, as Burrow got away, directed Chase on where to go and took a massive hit to deliver the touchdown ball.

If nothing else, it was a tone-setter for a team that looked like it had given up in the first half with the season on the line.

 

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49ers star hits Bengals for not paying Ja’Marr Chase

A 49ers star says what everyone is thinking about the Bengals and Ja’Marr Chase.

The Cincinnati Bengals have been on the receiving end of massive criticism for the failure to get a contract extension done with star wideout Ja’Marr Chase this past offseason.

And now a San Francisco 49es star has some thoughts about it, too.

During an interview with Bleacher Report, Samuel was shocked that the Bengals didn’t just get a deal done because Chase continues to be one of the best players in the game on a yearly basis.

“It’s definitely not a great idea now with him playing the way he’s playing,” Samuel said. “He was already doing this. That’s the thing. And it’s like, all right, you can make him mad, which is obviously not what you wanted to do…now you’re gonna have another problem this offseason.”

The commentary comes after Chase’s 11-catch outburst that totaled 264 yards and three touchdowns during the loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

Things are so bad for the Bengals on this outlook now that even Chase’s agent is commenting on it publicly. The number on his contract extension was always going to climb if they waited to get it done, but now serious roster holes along the defense make next offseason even tougher from a money standpoint.

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Ja’Marr Chase question caused Joe Burrow’s first profanity during presser

Joe Burrow cussed at a presser, which Ja’Marr Chase found hilarious.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow doesn’t usually use profanity in press conferences with the media.

But Burrow took it there this week before Week 11 against the Los Angeles Chargers thanks to a smart question about No. 1 target Ja’Marr Chase.

Asked about how Chase might tell the star quarterback to get him the ball more, among other things, Burrow said that “There’s a lot of different ways that a receiver can tell ya ‘get me the (expletive) ball.'”

Burrow was joking, of course, and said that receivers can even go through the media to ask for more looks on the field.

How rare is Burrow cussing? A few days later, Chase himself didn’t believe that it happened — until reporters showed him the footage, as captured by Mike Petraglia of CLNS Media:

 

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Ja’Marr Chase shares fun detail about friendship with Justin Jefferson

As a result, the two All-Pro wide receivers were and remain best friends, but their relationship In season is rather unique. 

Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson were teammates together at LSU and were a part of one of if not the best, seasons in college football history. Several offensive records were broken, and both of them played a major role in that being the reason why.

As a result, the two All-Pro wide receivers were and remain best friends, but their relationship In season is rather unique.

On Thursday, Chase spoke to the media and was asked about why he and Jefferson don’t talk to each other during the season. His response was rather comical saying “He’s just too big-time for me, man. He just don’t respond to me, bro.”

Of course, he said this with a laugh and a big smile, but it speaks to how seriously they take their craft. Jefferson and Chase are both the best in the NFL at their positions for a reason. Sacrifices have to be made, and sometimes, friendships are on hold.

One can assume once their seasons are over, they become best friends all over again.

5 Bengals players to watch in Week 11 vs. Chargers

Despite their under-.500 record, the Bengals are still littered with talent all over the field, particularly on offense.

It’s been a difficult season for the Cincinnati Bengals, who sit at 4-6 after another heartbreaking loss in Week 10. Don’t let the record fool you though, this is still a dangerous football team, particularly on the offensive side of the ball.

It may be the biggest challenge of the year for Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter. Another loss and the Bengals may lose any hope of sneaking into the postseason. Here are some players from the Bengals that the Chargers must keep an eye on this upcoming weekend:

WR Ja’Marr Chase

Let’s start with the best player on the field. Chase is one of the best wideouts in all of football, and he’s been exceptional in 2024. Heading into Week 11, he leads the NFL in catches (66), receiving yards (981), and receiving touchdowns (10). While the team’s record isn’t what they expected it to be, Chase has been nothing short of phenomenal.

TE Mike Gesicki

Gesicki has turned into an underrated signing for Cincinnati. In 10 contests, his 383 receiving yards ranks eighth amongst tight ends. With Tee Higgins out due to injury recently, Gesicki has turned into a nice secondary option in the passing game. The former Penn State product is second on the team in receiving yards behind Chase. He has 16 catches, 203 receiving yards, and two touchdowns over the last three games.

OT Orlando Brown

Brown signed a massive $64 million deal back in 2023, and it’s come with mixed results thus far. He’s been solid for the Bengals, but not quite worth that kind of money. The trenches will be a deciding factor in this weekend’s game, and that starts with Brown against the Chargers’ stellar pass rushers. Los Angeles tied for fourth in the NFL in sacks (31), so this will be a huge matchup to watch.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson

Hendrickson continues to fly under the radar around the NFL. He’s been a monster this season, as he leads the league in sacks (11.0) and is a frontrunner for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Hendrickson has added in 28 total tackles, three pass deflections, and a forced fumble. The Chargers have two legitimate offensive tackles, but they will be put to the test against this front.

CB Mike Hilton

Hilton is one of the best slot cornerbacks in the NFL, and he’s proved that again in 2024. His matchup against Ladd McConkey will be a deciding factor in this AFC matchup. Hilton always plays a physical brand of football and is known for being an exceptional blitzer as well.

Key things to know about Chargers’ Week 11 opponent: Bengals

Here are some important things to know about the Bengals ahead of the Week 11 matchup with the Chargers.

The Chargers are at home to face the Bengals in primetime on Sunday, Nov. 17, at 5:20 p.m. PT.

To get you prepped for the Week 11 bout, here are five key things to know about Los Angeles’ opponent ahead of the matchup.

How things are going…

The Bengals are 4-6 on the season. Cincinnati has one-point losses to the Chiefs and Ravens.

Prolific passing attack

Jesse Minter will have his work cut out against Joe Burrow and company. The Bengals rank fourth in passing offense, averaging 254.8 yards per game. Burrow leads in the NFL with 2,672 yards and 24 touchdowns. He’s only thrown four interceptions.

Brace for Chase

Burrow’s top target, Ja’Marr Chase, has been a terror to opposing defenses. Chase leads the league in receptions (66), receiving yards (981) and touchdowns (10).

Rough rushing offense

The Bengals have had success through the air, but the same can’t be said about their ground game. Cincinnati is 29th in rushing yards per game (89.7). Chase Brown is the team’s lead back. They acquired Khalil Herbert last week from the Bears after Zack Moss sustained a season-ending neck injury.

Dreadful defense

The Bengals have been able to score points, but they’ve struggled to prevent them, as they’ve allowed 26.2 PPG (26th). Cincinnati ranks 23rd and 17th in pass and rush defense, respectively. However, their issues have been in critical situations. The team ranks 31st in red zone percentage (71.88%) and 29th in third-down conversion percentage (45.80%).

Look out for…

Chase. This will be the biggest test for the Chargers’ cornerbacks this season. He’s capable of taking over a game with his big-play ability.

Ja’Marr Chase’s big night broke 61-year-old record

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase made some wild history.

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase did all he could to help his team avoid a season sweep at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens. Fantasy owners were quite happy as well after Chase caught 11 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns. In the end, the Bengals fell short, 35-34.

A bit of positive news came out of that stat line. Chase ended up totaling 431 receiving yards in two games against the Ravens — he had 193 yards and two touchdowns on 10 catches in Week 5. That broke a record for one player against a single opponent that had stood since 1963. Art Powell had 428 yards for the Oakland Raiders in two games against the Houston Oilers – 181 yards in Week 1, 247 yards in Week 16.

Ultimately, the Bengals went 0-2 against the Ravens and are 4-6 on the year, so maybe there won’t be much celebrating on this, but flowers are still due here for Chase.

 

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Ja’Marr Chase’s agent comments on contract saga with Bengals after TNF

Nobody is happier about the latest major outburst from Ja’Marr Chase.

The Cincinnati Bengals made a rather large mistake by not getting Ja’Marr Chase’s contract extension done this past summer.

By not getting it done during a process in which Chase felt he was misled, the Bengals risked the asking price jumping dramatically next summer when the deal inevitably gets done.

Not only is the asking price naturally going to go up alongside the positional market and NFL salary cap, but Chase is also going to keep popping off on the field.

Like Thursday night.

There, Chase had another absolutely ridiculous day, catching 11 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns during the loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Over 10 games, he’s now up to 981 yards and 10 touchdowns already, putting him on pace to shatter career highs of 1,455 and 13, respectively.

A career year in a contract year? Yes, Chase’s agent, Caitlin Aoki, is thrilled:

 

The Bengals should be too, at least in a way. But it likely stings a deal wasn’t already done and the epic season isn’t currently contributing to a playoff push.

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