As the Cincinnati Bengals gear up for their upcoming showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase didn’t hold back in sharing his thoughts.
Chase didn’t mince words when discussing the Chiefs’ secondary, an opinion he’s voiced about other teams before. He emphasized that the reigning Super Bowl champions lack a lockdown cornerback comparable to the Miami Dolphins’ Jalen Ramsey. Additionally, he pointed out that the absence of Kansas City safety Bryan Cook, who is on injured reserve, can’t be compared to the Atlanta Falcons’ Jessie Bates III, a former Bengal.
When it was pointed out that his comments might be seen as a dig at Cincinnati’s AFC rivals, Chase seemed to welcome the controversy, stating, “I’m just adding fire to the fuel. They’re going to take this, run with it. Hope they put it in their locker.”
The Bengals and Chiefs have a history of intense matchups, and the rivalry hit its peak in January 2022 when the Bengals triumphed over Kansas City in the AFC Championship Game, securing their first Super Bowl appearance in over three decades. The following year, Kansas City got revenge with a last-second field goal win.
Chase, now in his third year as an NFL player out of LSU, has been a consistent Pro Bowl selection in his first two seasons. He had his breakthrough performance against the Chiefs in Week 17 of the 2021 season, setting a franchise record with 266 receiving yards during a pivotal 34-31 victory that sealed the Bengals’ first playoff berth since 2015. In the two subsequent playoff encounters between these teams, he tallied 12 receptions for 129 yards and a touchdown.
Thursday’s practice indicated a positive sign regarding Chase’s availability for Sunday’s game. He participated in a limited capacity, marking his first involvement since sustaining a right shoulder injury during the Week 15 win against the Minnesota Vikings on December 16.
Nonetheless, Chase remained cautious about his status, stating, “It’s feeling good right now, but I’m still taking it day by day.” He emphasized that the final decision to play ultimately rests with him.
Both the Bengals (8-7) and the Chiefs (9-6) enter Sunday’s contest with less shine compared to their previous matchups. Kansas City has already experienced its highest number of regular-season losses since 2017, while the Bengals are grappling with the absence of starting quarterback Joe Burrow, who is recovering from season-ending wrist surgery, and find themselves outside the current playoff picture.
However, should Chase take the field, he knows what to anticipate from the Chiefs’ secondary. “They know I’m good, they know how to play us,” he noted. “That’s what it is. But it’s not like they got a superstar on their defense.”
On and off the field, this rivalry has seen its fair share of banter between the two teams, something that Chase relishes. “Hell yeah,” Chase exclaimed. “They talk the most s—.”