Despite losing season-opener to Patriots, Ja’Marr Chase claims Bengals are the team to beat in AFC

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase believes that they are a strong team ahead of anticipated clash against defending champions.

Despite losing season-opener to Patriots, Ja’Marr Chase claims Bengals are the team to beat in AFC

Ja'Marr Chase is confident about the Bengals even after upset loss to the New England Patriots. (Image via AP/Sports Illustrated)

The Cincinnati Bengals started 0-1 for the third straight season after losing to the New England Patriots in Week 1. Despite this, Ja’Marr Chase, the team’s wide receiver, noted they are a solid team to beat in the AFC.

Chase made this statement as he met the reporters ahead of their game versus the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs are on a bull run with two straight Super Bowl campaigns and aiming for a historic three-peat. The Bengals, although on a losing start, are one of the Super Bowl contenders of the year, making the Chiefs vs. Bengals game a must-watch.

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The Bengals were clear favorites against the Patriots with QB Joe Burrow returning to the field after an injury-ridden season. However, he didn’t meet the mark, failing visibly to perform and win the game. Fans have also speculated that Burrow might have issues with his wrist after the viral water bottle video.

Chase, on the other hand, is still going through the contract drama and held in during the preseason. Nevertheless, he hasn’t lost his confidence in the team yet. 

Everybody knows that, bro. It's not 'if.' We are the team to beat in the AFC and we know it, and we gotta play like it, too.
Ja’Marr Chase said to ESPN

The Bengals were definitely the Patriots’ biggest upset in a very long. Their fans aren’t therefore happy with the team, as a loss on Sunday will mean the fifth 0-2 start in the past six seasons. Chase, however, was quick to dismiss the notion that they are a championship-caliber team. 

All that noise y'all are making and stuff, we see it, we hear it. But we're not worried about it, you know what I'm saying? At the end of the day, it's about the team and what we're doing on the field. The outside people are not on the field, telling us what to do on the field. I'll let them stay outside and make their own comments.
Ja’Marr Chase added

Ja’Marr Chase was reportedly given a record-tying contract during the offseason

Although he has stepped up to the team’s efforts, Chase has still not agreed with the Cincinnati Bengals on a contract extension. It was earlier reported that Chase wanted a contract more than the Minnesota Vikings’ Justin Jefferson deal. However, the Bengals and the wideout couldn’t materialize the offer Bengals presented him in the off-season.

Ja'Marr Chase
Ja’Marr Chase versus the Patriots. (Image via AP)

The reports of what the Bengals offered him are now known. During the off-season, James Rapien, a Bengals reporter for Sports Illustrated, said that the team offered Chase a 4-year, $140 million contract extension. The deal would have tied him with Jefferson for the highest-paid WRs in the league’s history.

However, while the overall sum was appealing, the WR wasn’t pleased with the guaranteed sum offered in the contract. The Bengals offered Chase $90 million, whereas the Jefferson deal ensured $110 million for the player. All this said, Chase’s recent attitudes and speaking up for the team suggest there might be some development happening behind the scenes.