CINCINNATI — Like ornaments on the Christmas tree after the holiday is over, the sticky notes are starting to come down off Ja’Marr Chase’s bathroom mirror one by one.
First came the accomplishment of 1,500 yards in a season last Sunday in a 24-6 win over the Cleveland Browns. That came on a 32-yard touchdown strike from Joe Burrow. The catch put him at 1,510 on the year.
Next up is the single-season record for catches held by T.J. Houshmandzadeh at 112. Chase is just four shy of matching and five from setting a new mark. He should be able to accomplish that this Sunday against one of the very elite corners in the game – Patrick Surtain II – of the Broncos.
Another team record could be set this Saturday as Chase is just one touchdown from matching the 17 touchdown grabs by Carl Pickens in 1995.
Chase is comfortably ahead in all of the “Triple Crown” receiving categories – receptions (108), receiving yards (1,510) and receiving touchdowns (16). He’d be just the fifth receiver since 1960 to accomplish the feat and the first since Cooper Kupp in 2021. The others are Jerry Rice (1990), Sterling Sharpe (1992) and Steve Smith (2005).
He is having the greatest single season in Bengals receiving history, a franchise that has had a lineage of great receivers.
With just two games remaining, he has all but secured his place as an All-Pro for 2024. This much should be clear. But still, he was asked Thursday if he feels he needs to finish out his great season on a strong note in the final two games to cement his place on the prestigious list of elite players for 2024.
“I should already be All-Pro,” Chase said without hesitation. Any need to prove anything more on Saturday? “No, I should already be All-Pro.”
The All-Pro status is designated by the Associated Press, an honor that is more prestigious and distinguished than the Pro Bowl since it recognizes only a first team and second team of great players at their position. It has been around since 1940. The honor recognizes the most accomplished players for a single season throughout the NFL, regardless of conference, as voted on by pro football writers.
Chase also said “not at all” when asked about the “Triple Crown” since winning is what matters most.
“I gotta worry about winning the game and being in the playoffs,” Chase said. “Me worrying about winning the triple crown won’t put money in my pockets. Me making the playoffs will put some money in my pocket.”
Reminded that endorsements could help put money in his pocket, Chase conceded a bit. But when the subject of having a better position in contract negotiations, Chase quickly declined.
“We’re not talking about negotiations right now,” Chase retorted. “We’re talking about football.”
Chase going up against All-Pro corner Patrick Surtain II rekindles one of the better matchups in recent college history when Surtain squared off against Chase in the 2019 showdown in Tuscaloosa when Joe Burrow and LSU out-slugged Alabama, 46-41, on their way to a national championship.
“Good corner. Size for real, speed, patience,” Chase said of Surtain. Asked if he thinks the Broncos will help Surtain in coverage on Chase, the Bengals receiver said, “They probably will. I didn’t expect Denzel (Ward) to get help and he did.”
Chase is looking for a much better game than he had in his only pro matchup against Surtain. In the 2021 game in Denver, Chase had just one catch for three yards on four targets in Cincinnati’s 15-10 win. Burrow was 15-of-22 for 157 yards and a touchdown in that game, won on a 56-yard touchdown strike from Burrow to Tyler Boyd with 30 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
