Ja’Marr Chase believes the Cincinnati Bengals‘ performance against the Baltimore Ravens last week shows they are better than their 1-4 record suggests. However, as the Bengals’ star wide receiver said Thursday, “the numbers don’t lie.” The Bengals have lost four of their first five games and let a win slip away in a 41-38 overtime defeat to the Ravens.
Chase feels the team can’t wait any longer to prove themselves, and that their turnaround must begin in Sunday’s prime-time matchup against the New York Giants.
“This has to be the game we set the standard, right here, and leave it all on the table,” Chase said in his news conference.
Burrow and Chase Lead Strong Offensive Effort
Cincinnati’s four losses have been close, by a total of just 15 points. It’s their worst start since 2019, the year head coach Zac Taylor took over. That season led to the drafting of quarterback Joe Burrow as the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, after the Bengals finished with the NFL’s worst record.
Burrow and Chase have played together for six seasons, from LSU to Cincinnati, and this season has been one of their best in terms of individual stats. Burrow is second in the league in Total QBR and leads the NFL with 12 passing touchdowns. Five of those touchdowns have gone to Chase, who is tied for first in touchdown catches and second in receiving yards.
While Cincinnati’s offense is one of the league’s best, their defense has struggled, ranking near the bottom in key categories. But Chase feels a breakthrough is coming.
“Everyone knows that we’re a great offensive team and we always start slow out [on] defense,” Chase said. “They always get it back at the end of the season and pick up their pace. I feel like it won’t be too long until we turn this thing around.”
Nabers and Chase: LSU Alums Set for Potential Showdown
The Bengals’ defense will face Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers, who shares similarities with Chase. Both are LSU alums and top-10 draft picks. Chase and Nabers trained together during the offseason, and Chase even texted Nabers about a jersey swap after Sunday’s game.
It’s unclear if Nabers will play this week, as he remains in concussion protocol and missed practice on Thursday. Giants coach Brian Daboll said Nabers is still in the same condition as Wednesday, when he also didn’t practice. Nabers is tied for seventh in receiving yards and leads the league in targets, despite missing last week’s game.
If Nabers plays, he’ll go up against a Bengals defense that ranks poorly in limiting quarterbacks. Cincinnati’s defense held a players-only meeting on Wednesday to address the need to improve after the loss to Baltimore. Bengals cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt spoke Thursday about changing the team’s narrative.
“We’re trying to prove everybody wrong at the end of the day, but [also] prove ourselves right, bigger than anything,” Taylor-Britt said. “Everybody in this locker room is the only people that believe in us. We got to keep it that way.”
Playoff Odds Slim, But Team Spirit Remains High
According to ESPN, less than 6% of teams that start 1-4 make the playoffs since 1966, the Super Bowl era. Chase said last week’s game against the Ravens should have been the spark for the team, but he believes the turnaround must happen this week against the Giants.
“I know we can do it just because [of] the people we have around us,” Chase said. “No one in this locker room wants to quit or has quit in them.”
