Tensions are starting to run high for the Cincinnati Bengals, who lost their second straight game on Monday night in a 28-3 defeat against the Denver Broncos.
After a sideline incident with head coach Zac Taylor late in the game went viral, Ja’Marr Chase wrote on X “I play with passion” and also seemed to have a sense of humor about the situation in another post.
The incident occurred in the third quarter when Chase walked up to Taylor on the Bengals’ sideline. Cincinnati’s star receiver was seen talking to his coach about something.
It seemed rather innocuous, but given how the Bengals’ offense has been playing with Joe Burrow out of the lineup, it’s not difficult to imagine everyone on the team being frustrated right now.
Asked about the situation after the game, Taylor praised Chase’s passion and desire to win.
“Ja’Marr, coming off a game like this, is one of my favorite players… he’s a captain that competes his tail off. … I love Ja’Marr … When I’m done coaching, he’ll be one of my favorite players,” said Taylor.
Cincinnati’s three points against the Broncos were its fewest in a game since Week 4 of the 2023 season. The Bengals also had just 159 yards of total offense.
After going 2-0 in games started by Burrow, the Bengals are now 0-2 with Browning as their starting quarterback. They have scored a total of 13 points in those games.
Chase caught five passes for 23 yards on Monday. It was his fewest yards in a game since Week 18 in 2023 when he only played 31 out of 64 possible offensive snaps when the Bengals had already been eliminated from playoff contention.
Coming off a 2024 season in which Chase led the NFL in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, he is currently averaging the fewest yards per game (66.0) and yards per reception (10.2) of his career with just one touchdown catch through four games.
Things won’t get easier for the Bengals on a short week, as they host the Detroit Lions on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.
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