Are the Cincinnati Bengals the best in the AFC? Ja’Marr Chase thinks so

Given his current contractual situation and his comments following their Week 1 loss, it’s a curious thing to see the Bengals’ star wide receiver promoting the idea that the team can go all the way. Of course, everybody is entitled to their opinion.

Ja’Marr Chase is still backing the Bengals

If you caught the Cincinnati Bengals’ Week 1 game against the New England Patriots, then you know it did not go according to plan. Indeed, the Bengals who are widely considered to be contenders this season fell to the Pats, who are not. In a game that saw the Bengals put just 10 points on the board without a single passing touchdown, it was not a good look.

Indeed, that was something that was made clear by Bengals wide receiver, Ja’Marr Chase, who gave a frank response when asked about the performance postgame, seemingly not pleased about his lack of targets. Yet, despite the loss and his comments, it may surprise you to know that Chase is still very much backing his team and its potential going forward. For context, the 24-year-old was absent for almost the entire preseason as he held out for a new deal, one which he is yet to receive, but it’s clear that hasn’t dampened his spirits.

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Speaking on Thursday with the media, Chase overt in his belief that Cincinnati is the best team in the AFC, though he did concede that was not on show during their first game of the 2024 NFL season. “We’re the team to beat in the AFC. We need to act like it, and we need to play like it,” Chase said. Again, what’s interesting here is the context of the situation in that Chase has yet to agree on a new deal with the franchise and is coming from a game in which he caught only six passes on six targets and notched just 62 yards. As mentioned above, his take on the game was not exactly complimentary when he alluded to head coach Zac Taylor being responsible.

Now, whether one agrees with Chase or not, it’s worth noting that he hasn’t registered more than six catches or 64 yards in a game since last December when he caught 11 passes for 149 yards and a touchdown. Incidentally, that was also the last time he scored. This is all to say that if the Bengals are in fact what he believes them to be, they will have to show that ASAP as their Week 2 opponents are the reigning Super Bowl champions, Kansas City Chiefs, who are fresh off of putting down the Baltimore Ravens.