Steelers Now
CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Steelers simply had no answer for Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase in Thursday night’s 33-31 loss, as the All-Pro hauled in 16 reception on a whopping 23 targets for 161 yards (10.1 average) and a touchdown. His 16 receptions set a Bengals franchise record. It was also the most catches ever allowed by the Steelers.
“I didn’t even know I had 16 (catches), if I’m being honest,” Chase said afterward. “I thought I had, like, nine. … It didn’t feel like that many.”
Chase’s 23 targets were the most by a player in a single game this season and tied for the ninth-most all-time.
Chase revealed after the game that he wasn’t surprised with the Steelers’ scheme or matchup in front of him.
Chase caught a career-high eight passes for 76 yards and a TD against man coverage and eight passes for 85 yards against zone in Week 6, according to Next Gen Stats. No other player has gained 75 yards against both coverage types in any game this season.
Ramsey had made it a point to claim the task of covering Chase during a training camp appearance on “The Pivot” podcast. The Steelers also had Joey Porter Jr. try to check last season’s triple crown winner, but pass interference calls haunted him once again.
“I mean, we’ve got the guys to do it,” Porter said afterward of covering the two high-end wideouts. “They’ve just gotta let us play. … I wasn’t a big fan of the calls today with the officiating, but it is what it is. It’s football.”
Alan Saunders and Brendan Howe provided reporting from Cincinnati.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Bengals Star WR Ja’Marr Chase Breaks Record in Win over Steelers
