On Sunday, November 12, 2023, at Paycor Stadium, during the Texans-Bengals game in Week 10 of the 2023 season, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase runs the ball.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase continued to elevate his exceptional level despite a limited practice week and limitless double teams on a day when locker-room leaders claimed Sunday’s 30-27 last-snap loss to the Texans at Paycor Stadium did not satisfy Bengals’ standards. The Gritty, not The Griddy, was this.
Chase claimed that Bengals head coach Zac Taylor offered him the option to play despite having a painful back. He then put the team on his back by hauling in five passes for 124 yards, setting a new franchise record for reception yards and breaking his own record of 1,455.
With an average yards per game of 87.4, he also cemented his No. 2 spot on the NFL’s all-time list, surpassing Julio Jones by more than a yard and remaining roughly 11 yards behind former LSU teammate Justin Jefferson.
After suffering a back bruise against the Bills the previous week, Chase declared, “I was good throughout the whole game.” “I was attempting to stay moving right before the game began. I won’t feel it as long as I’m moving.
He even attempted a late shot that would have been considered helmet-to-helmet and recovered.
“They hit me in the damn head, but I’m still alive,” he replied.
However, he felt bad about this one.
Over the past two seasons, the Bengals have finished with a 5-4 record, made it to the AFC championship game both times, and have won it once. They have never had to perform the tasks they now have to. Prepare for a Thursday night match in Baltimore, the home of the 7-3 leaders of the AFC North. If Chase felt at ease knowing that they had been here previously, it was asked.
Chase remarked, “I don’t look at football like that.” “On offense, we must play more consistently. as we had been the previous three games. When we’re not, we’re limited.
It’s obvious which football is left. It’s football akin to Ja’Marr Chase’s “reach down in the gut.”
They needed to win out to defeat the Ravens without Lamar Jackson in order to win the AFC North last season, when they were 5-4. Jackson is waiting in Baltimore less than a day from now, and all of the divisional teams are playing in the playoffs before the Bengals. The Bills and Bengals are the next two teams on the outside looking in, but the Texans simply blasted past them into the seventh and final slot.
the middle Ted Karras is astounded by his team’s tenacity. And he states that it will unavoidably be.
“We must repeat last year’s performance and prevail… We cannot ponder on it. Although we have a winning record of 5-4, things are getting close as we approach the finish. We must defeat our opponents and win the division as it’s the best football division.”
the center Ted Karras is in awe of his team’s perseverance. And he states that it is going to need to be.
“Great job by everyone rallying back and putting us in position to win the ballgame,” Karras stated. “A kick against a strong Houston club that we could have to see again decided the game.
We must repeat our success from the previous year… We must not linger on it. Even though we have a winning record (5-4) it’s getting close in the last few games. It’s the best division in football, so we have to win the division.”
Mike Hilton, a slot cornerback, has more experience than most having played on North winners in Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.
We can make amends, go into Baltimore, and win there,” Hilton remarked. It’s undoubtedly difficult. It’s a challenging setting. What are we going to do, with our backs to the wall? Will we fold, or will we go and present our true selves? The choice is ours.”
After observing the Texans’ four sacks and nine hits of Burrow, offensive captain Karras said, “It’s a good front.” It’s their team’s strength. The D-Line and C.J. Stroud are likely the best units. Additionally, Joe wasn’t kept comfortable, which has an impact on our entire offensive. It’s not a prescription for success to put Joe under duress like we did today.”
His running ability and use of speed are two things about him that are underappreciated, according to Rankins, who was aware that changes were imminent. “We were aware going into the game that we would have to maintain our gap integrity because, as you saw on his one run, he would take advantage of any lane to slip out. Even when he gets out on the scoring play, he manages to make the throw downfield. We knew we had to come up with some big plays, maintain our gap integrity, and keep breaking everything in his path because of the amazing things he can do with his legs.”
Chase didn’t seem to be having any fun. Not a backflip like two weeks ago in San Francisco. Not Griddy, not like his reign on social media. That’s how it’s going to be the rest of the way, he seemed to be saying.
When asked if he wanted a swift Thursday night turnaround following what Karras described as “a raw,” loss, Chase replied, “No.” “But that’s football.”
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