Ja'Marr Chase does more with less and made history twice in Bengals' win over Panthers
There aren't many players who can have an immense impact on an NFL game by only touching the ball three times on offense. Not many players are like Ja'Marr Chase.On a day when the Cincinnati Bengals finally posted a win for the 2024 season, Chase somehow managed to lead the offense in receiving with 85 yards […]
There aren't many players who can have an immense impact on an NFL game by only touching the ball three times on offense.
Not many players are like Ja'Marr Chase.
On a day when the Cincinnati Bengals finally posted a win for the 2024 season, Chase somehow managed to lead the offense in receiving with 85 yards and a touchdown on just three receptions. Only six of quarterback Joe Burrow's 31 attempts came his way all afternoon.
Low volume or not, Chase managed to make both Bengals and league-wide history.
Ja'Marr Chase makes history on two fronts
Entering Sunday, Chase was sitting at 3,932 receiving yards in his career. He needed 68 to reach 4,000 yards with his fourth season still months away from being done.
He crossed that threshold with just two receptions. When he got to 74 yards after his second catch, he went over 4,000 yards after 49 career games and became the fastest player in franchise history to reach that mark. The previous record-holder was A.J. Green, who did it in 50 games.
Chase was nearly able to get to 68 with just one catch. He took a deep in-route 63 yards to the end zone with the majority of after the catch and contact. It was one of five touchdowns both the Bengals and Carolina Panthers scored in the first half before a more second half ensued.
Team history? Check. How about NFL history? That boxed was checked when Chase hauled in his second pass as well. He became the fifth receiver in league history to rack up 4,000 yards and 30 touchdowns in his first 50 games, joining Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Green, and Odell Beckham Jr.
While the Bengals' defense remains a major weakness heading into the heart of the season, Chase is officially hitting his stride as the offense appears to have found its form. His gamebreaking ability can show up at any time, even when the defense had been taking him out of the game beforehand.
In the shootouts to come, Chase's big-play ability will be relied on more and more.
