Ja’Marr Chase had an iconic performance against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10. The star wide receiver finished the game with 11 receptions for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
However, that was not enough for the Cincinnati Bengals to come away with a win. They lost 35-34 after failing to convert on a two-point play with less than 40 seconds left in the game.
Joe Burrow, who also had a big game, chose not to throw the ball to Chase on the game-deciding play and instead tried to connect with tight end Tanner Hudson. The referees missed two controversial calls on that play that would have gone in favor of the Bengals, but the decision not to throw the ball toward Chase was a head-scratching choice.
LeSean McCoy Is Unhappy With the Bengals’ Decision
Former Philadelphia Eagles running back LeSean McCoy was quite upset with the Bengals’ decision on the failed two-point attempt. During a segment on Fox’s “The Facility,” he called out the team for not utilizing Chase.
“I love the play call, but I hate who he threw the ball to,” McCoy said. “Ja’Marr Chase is going up and down, around and around, scoring touchdowns every way possible, and we don’t look at him in man-to-man. What are we doing?”
McCoy also mentioned that, even if the play call was designed for Hudson, Burrow could have changed it on the field, as Chase was in man-to-man coverage.
“It’s like, if I want this play call to be changed, I’m going to change it. I’m not asking the coach. If I want the route to be changed, I’m not asking no coach, I’m changing it. … Why would he throw the ball to the tight end when you had Ja’Marr Chase who is red-hot all game?”
“I love the play call, but I hate who he threw the ball to.” @CutOnDime25 on the Bengals going for the 2-pt conversion instead of tying up the game pic.twitter.com/fs1w3Lg59Z
— The Facility (@TheFacilityFS1) November 8, 2024
Some people also criticized Bengals head coach Zac Taylor’s decision to go for two points as they could have tied the score with a PAT attempt. However, McCoy believes the Bengals made the right decision, as Lamar Jackson would have won the game for the Ravens.
“I guess, instead of going to overtime and all that, let’s just win this game right now. They did a good chance, but I don’t like the play calls as far as who they threw the ball to. I wanted it to Ja’Marr Chase; he is red hot all game.”
In the win against the Bengals, Jackson completed 25 of 33 throws for 290 yards and four touchdowns. He was completely dominant, and Cincinnati’s struggling defense gave up 28 points in the second half after limiting Baltimore to only seven points in the first half.
Ja’Marr Chase Has Made Things Difficult for the Bengals
Chase wanted to sign a contract extension before the start of this season, but the Bengals refused his demand. Based on his performances so far this year, the LSU product has raised his value, and the franchise will now be forced to pay a significantly higher amount to keep him on the roster.
In the offseason, the Bengals star wanted a little more than Justin Jefferson’s four-year, $140 million contract to become the highest-paid receiver in the league. Now, nobody will be surprised if he crosses the $150 million mark with his new contract.
Chase currently leads the NFL in receiving yards with 981 in 10 games, averaging 14.9 yards per reception and 8.7 targets per game. He has also scored 10 touchdowns and is only behind Derrick Henry (14) in that category.
The 24-year-old wide receiver is crucial for the Bengals’ success. Since the team will likely lose Tee Higgins after this season, they need to keep Chase on the team. If he is not offered an extension, then there is no certainty that Burrow would like to remain with the team for the rest of his career.
Cincinnati is 4-6 this season but is not yet mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. However, the controversial loss to the Ravens has put the Bengals in a position to need to win the rest of their games this season to make the playoffs.