The Cincinnati Bengals have officially been eliminated from playoff contention, which means their final three games will have little to no stake. However, members of the team and the coaching staff are not taking these games lightly.
When asked about the remaining three games of the season, star wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase said, “We can’t go out there embarrassing ourselves or the organization.” When asked about the front office and team ownership, Chase said, “I feel great about them.“
Ja’Marr Chase’s Season
The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver has now crossed the 1,000-yard mark for the fifth-straight season, and on Sunday he reached 100 receptions for the third consecutive season. Despite these feats, Chase is having a less productive season compared to his stellar 2024 campaign. His yards per game has diminished from a league-leading 100.5 to 88.2.
The 2024 receiving triple crown winner also commented on the current league leader in receiving yards, Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Chase said “I’m not understanding how he’s getting behind these safeties every play.
From what I’m seeing, the clips that I do see, he runs good routes…gets out of his breaks pretty good, and he makes contested catches too.” Smith-Njigba was previously on pace to break Calvin Johnson’s receiving yards record set in 2012, when Johnson reached 1,964 receiving yards. Smith-Njigba is currently on pace for 1,871, which is more than the most Ja’Marr Chase has had in any season (1,708).
Perhaps a big factor in Chase’s numbers going down from last season was the absence of starting quarterback Joe Burrow. In the five games Chase has played with Burrow, Chase is averaging 95.4 receiving yards per game. Without Burrow, Chase averaged 83.8.
Regarding the competition at the receiver position and potential end-of-the-season accolades, Chase said “I know I’m one of the best out there, if not the best. Because we can look at the defense and look at the structure of the defense and tell where everybody’s looking to on defense.
I don’t have to show my accolades or nothing for it.”
Ja’Marr Chase currently ranks fourth in receiving yards and third in receptions. Next up for Chase is a game against the Dolphins. He last faced Miami in 2022, finishing that game with four receptions for 81 yards in a 27–15 Bengals win. He’ll primarily line up against cornerback Rasul Douglas, who recently won the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his effort against the Jets.
Cincinnati Bengals Closing Stretch
The Bengals will close out their season by going against three teams currently under .500. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, last Sunday’s 24-0 loss against the Ravens knocked them out of playoff contention. As Chase said, the remainder of the year is all about playing for pride and the organization.
Head coach Zac Taylor shared a similar sentiment as he said, “These types of games are good character games.” Taylor also confirmed that quarterback Joe Burrow will start the remaining games for Cincinnati despite being eliminated, when asked why, he said “Because we want to win.”
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