Something feels off in Cincinnati, and it’s not just the loss of Joe Burrow. For the first time in his career, Ja’Marr Chase looks like a superstar searching for answers rather than creating them. The explosive plays that once defined his game have been replaced by frustration and missed opportunities, leaving fans and analysts wondering what’s really behind his slow start in 2025.
Can Ja’Marr Chase Overcome the Bengals’ Offensive Collapse Without Joe Burrow?
With Burrow sidelined on injured reserve, backup Jake Browning once again led the Bengals offense on Sunday. Through three quarters, Chase has just four receptions for 31 yards on eight targets — another underwhelming outing in what’s quickly becoming the most aggravating stretch of his career. Through four weeks, he’s totaled 264 yards and one touchdown, putting him on pace for the lowest production of his five-year run in Cincinnati.
The Bengals’ offense has had 17 scoreless offensive drives before finally coming alive in the fourth quarter, scoring 21 points to the Detroit Lions’ nine.
The #Bengals have gone 17 straight possessions without scoring a TD.
The offense is straight-up unwatchable. pic.twitter.com/cKLdTWqeY1
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 5, 2025
Chase’s final stat line was 110 yards on 10 targets with two touchdowns, including a 64-yard bomb that reminded everyone of his game-breaking ability. But it was too little, too late. The Bengals dropped to 2-3 after a 37-24 loss, and despite Chase’s late surge, the bigger story remains the inconsistency that has defined Cincinnati’s season without Burrow under center.
Jake Browning hooks up with Ja’Marr Chase for a massive 64-yard touchdown. It’s 28-17, Detroit. pic.twitter.com/mMSAgAKDpO
— Bengals Nation (@Bengals__Nation) October 5, 2025
Through four games, Chase ranks 18th among wide receivers in PFSN’s WR Impact Score with an 81.3 (B-) grade — solid, but far from his usual elite territory. The connection with Browning showed flashes in the fourth quarter, but through long stretches of the game, the timing and rhythm that once made this offense unstoppable simply weren’t there. Chase was visibly frustrated on the sideline early on, and even his late heroics couldn’t erase the missed opportunities that buried the Bengals in a deep first-half hole.
As a whole, the Bengals offense sits near the bottom of the league in PFSN’s Offense Impact metric, posting a 53.2 rating. That places them squarely between the Cleveland Browns (56.4) and Tennessee Titans (50.2) — a stunning decline for a unit that once ranked among the NFL’s most explosive. Until the quarterback situation stabilizes, it’s fair to wonder how much longer Chase can keep carrying the load — or if frustration might soon turn into concern.