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NFL

Ja’Marr Chase critical of defense, fuels Bengals Chiefs rivalry

The Bengals wide receiver believes the Chiefs defense lacks a defensive star at Jalen Ramsey’s level.

Estados UnidosUpdate:
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 29: Ja'Marr Chase #1 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on October 29, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.   Loren Elliott/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Loren Elliott / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
LOREN ELLIOTTAFP

The Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs have built a rivalry in recent years after facing each other in the AFC Championship Game two years running. The balance is even, with a victory for each franchise, but within the framework of Week 17 there is a new wrinkle in this face off.

Ja’Marr Chase, the Bengals star wide receiver, is prepared to face the Chiefs defense. The LSU standout says that the Chiefs lack star-level players in the NFL and that they are simply not good enough, adding that they only know how to defend him thanks to the system.

If I’m honest, they have nothing. They just know how to defend us, things that we do sometimes,” said Chase. “They run a lot of double coverage on our best players and that’s it. It’s not like they have a Jalen Ramsey on their team.”

Currently, the Chiefs’ starting defensive backs are L’Jarius Sneed and Jaylen Watson at the corners, Trent McDuffie at nickel, with Justin Reid and Mike Edwards deep. None of them have been invited to the Pro Bowl or been named All-Pro.

Ja’Marr Chase’s numbers against the Chiefs

Chase has faced the Chiefs four times as a professional, including those two AFC Championships. In the two regular season games, he stacked up 363 yards and three touchdowns, catching 18 of 20 passes thrown in his direction. His performance on January 2, 2022 was so dominant that it set the franchise yardage record.

The Bengals are on top of the series, 3-1 with their only loss coming in the run-up to last year’s Super Bowl. In total, Chase has 492 yards and four touchdowns, pulling down 30 of the 37 passes thrown his way when he has faced Kansas City.