Cincinnati Bengals fans are elated to see Joe Burrow back on the field for the first time since week two this week against the Ravens. His return energized the entire team, and they beat the Ravens handily, 32-14.
The fans and the rest of the team may have been happy to see Burrow back, but there’s likely no one in the world as happy to see Burrow back as Ja’Marr Chase.
How Good Can Ja’Marr Chase Be Now That Burrow is Back?
Now I don’t want to sit here and act like Chase was having a rough time getting catches or targets when Joe Flacco was in there. He wasn’t in the slightest. Chase had at least six catches and 90 yards in five of the last six games before Burrow came back. Joe Flacco targeted Chase 47 times in five games, and Chase played very well. However, the Bengals were still 1-4 in games Flacco started, and wins mean more than stats.
In Burrows’ first game, Chase put up an easy seven catches for 110 yards on 14 targets. That being said, if you watched the game, Chase could have easily had a much bigger game than that. Burrow was rusty early and missed chase on a few throws that he usually makes. On a typical day for Burrow, Chase probably goes for 10 catches for 150 yards instead of the day he had.
On top of the big day for Chase, the more important thing is that the Bengals came out of the game with the win. Burrow played mistake-free football, even if it wasn’t up to his typical standard, and made plays in the second half when he needed to. With Tee Higgins out due to injury, the Ravens shifted more of their defense to stop Chase, which allowed Andrei Iosivas and others to make plays.
When Higgins can come back from injury, that should open things up even more for Burrow and Chase as well. We all saw what Burrow and Chase could do last year when Burrow led the league in passing touchdowns and was fourth in passing yards, while Chase won the triple crown. Chase likely isn’t winning the triple crown this year because Jaxon Smith-Njigba is playing at an insane level, but don’t be surprised if he comes close now that Burrow is back.
With Burrow back, the Bengals look like they could go on a run to end the year. It’s unlikely they’ll make the playoffs, but it’s not impossible. If they are going to do that, though, they will need Burrow and Chase to play top-notch the rest of the year, and if anyone in the NFL can play at that level, it’s these two.
