Despite the struggles of the Bengals and Chiefs, the NFL left its Week 17 meeting as the most important late-afternoon Sunday game against the Dolphins-Ravens. The Bengals and Chiefs have created one of the NFL's best rivalries in recent seasons.
The teams exchanged trash talk on and off the field, and that continued in the Bengals' locker room on Thursday.
Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase criticized the Chiefs defense when asked an innocuous question about what sets them apart.
“I'll be honest, NothingChase said via video from Jungle Roar Pod's Mike Petraglia. “They just know how to play against us. You know the levers. . . . They know what we're going to do, certain moves. They throw a couple of double-doubles at us to stop the two best outside hitters. That's all they do. It's not really like they have a Jalen Ramsey on their roster. So not much [stands out].”
Chase set a franchise record with 266 receiving yards against the Chiefs in Week 17 of the 2021 season and totaled 12 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown in two postseason games.
He said he loves playing against the Chiefs because “they talk the most shit,” adding that he doesn't care if you add “fire to the fuel.”
“They can take it however they want. I do not careChase said. “At the end of the day, there’s only so much I can do myself. It's not like I'm an Ironman. I can't throw the football to myself. It's a team sport. I know what I see on paper. I know what I see in the game. That's why they double everyone because they can't do it individually. The best player on their team is [L’Jarius] Sneeze. That's a fact. Everyone knows that. That’s why they double everything they see.”
Chase, whose right shoulder injury kept him out of the game last week, is on track to return after seeing limited work on Thursday. He said his status for Sunday is still uncertain, but if he plays, the Chiefs would know what to expect.
“You know I’m fine. They know how to play us,” Chase said. “It is. But it's not like they have a superstar on their defense.”
He urged the Chiefs to accept his comments and “go along.”
“I hope they put it in their locker,” he said.
Chase has 93 receptions for 1,156 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games this season.