Bengals Beat: Consolation Prizes Start for Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase As Records Fall

CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow found an early gift in his stocking on Christmas Eve.

The Bengals franchise quarterback Wednesday was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in the team’s 45-21 win at Miami in Week 16.

Burrow completed 25 of 32 passes (78.1 percent) for 309 yards and four touchdowns and no interceptions. His passer rating of 146.5 was a season high, the second-highest in a game in his career and the sixth-highest by any NFL QB in a game this season. He led all AFC QBs in Week 16 in passer rating and TD passes, while ranking second in completion percentage and third in passing yards.

The Week 16 win was Burrow’s 75th career regular-season game played. Among all quarterbacks in NFL history through 75 games, he ranks first in completions (1868), third in TD passes (152) and fifth in passing yards (20,269). During the game, he became the third-fastest QB in league history — in terms of games played — to reach 150 career TD passes, and the fifth-fastest to reach 20,000 career passing yards.

Burrow completed at least one pass to eight different receivers in Week 16. He had a perfect 158.3 passer rating on third downs, going seven of eight for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

This is Burrow’s eighth career AFC Offensive Player of the Week award, and his first this season. Bengals players have combined for 16 AFC Offensive Player of the Week honors since the start of the 2021 season, the most in the NFL in that span. Cincinnati also has 24 total weekly awards (Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams) in that span, tied for the third-most by any team.

Then there’s Burrow’s iconic receiver.

On Tuesday, NFL announced Ja’Marr Chase has been voted to the AFC team for the 2026 Pro Bowl Games.

Chase, the fourth overall pick in 2021, has been named a Pro Bowler in each of his first five seasons. Chase joins former wide receiver A.J. Green (2011-15) as the only players in Bengals history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of their first five years in the league. Chase additionally was voted as a starter at wide receiver for the second consecutive season.

The triple crown winner in 2024, Chase ranks second in the NFL this season in receptions (110) and fourth in receiving yards (1256), while also recording five receiving touchdowns. He has totaled 100 or more receiving yards in seven games, the most in a single season in Bengals history. He recently became the fifth player in NFL history to reach the 1000-yard receiving mark in each of his first five seasons.

Chase is the sixth player in team history with at least five Pro Bowl selections in his Bengals career, joining Hall of Fame left tackle Anthony Munoz (11 selections), defensive tackle Geno Atkins (eight), Green (seven), receiver Chad Johnson (six) and recently-minted Ring of Honor inductee and cornerback Lemar Parrish (six).

Additionally, three Bengals have been voted as alternates for the AFC team. Receiver Tee Higgins is a second alternate, corner DJ Turner II is a third alternate, and kick return specialist Charlie Jones is a fifth alternate. Alternates are added to the event if voted players in their position group are unable to participate. Selections from the two teams reaching the Super Bowl will be among those unable to play, as will players who are not cleared due to injury.

Higgins and Turner deserve to make the AFC squad outright based on spectacular seasons. Higgins has overcome a pair of concussions to amass 10 touchdowns, tied for third in the NFL this season, and is averaging 14.7 yards per catch, good for 11th in the NFL. Turner has risen to near the top of the NFL in defensive cornerback rating, ranking with the elite cornerbacks in the league for his ability to breakup passes and force quarterbacks to look elsewhere in the Bengals secondary for their targets. NFL “NextGen” ranks Turner in the top 15 of all-around defensive backs in the NFL in 2025.

The 2026 Pro Bowl Games take place on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif., and will be televised live on ESPN.

NOTES:
The Bengals today cleared center Matt Lee to practice by designating him for return from the injured reserve list. Lee, a second-year player, has been on IR since Oct. 28 with a knee injury. He may practice with the team without counting against the 53-player active roster, and is eligible to be activated to the roster at any time during the remainder of the season.