CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher put it in plain and simple terms after Ja’Marr Chase only recorded two catches for 12 yards in the season opener.
“We didn’t throw him the ball enough,” Pitcher said on Wednesday as the Bengals prepared for Sunday's game at Houston. “It’s pretty simple. We’ve got to throw him the ball more. He’s the best receiver in the world. That’s first and foremost.”
The good news for the Bengals is that they scored 33 points in a Week 1 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and they could have scored 40 points if they didn’t end up kneeling the ball inside the red zone to close out the fourth quarter.
After going through a frustrating 2025 season for the team last season, Chase was happy to see the Bengals open 2026 with a 1-0 record.
“What’s understood doesn’t need to be explained at the end of the day,” Chase said. “I think I held my attitude accountable. I didn’t flip. I didn’t do extra stuff. Acted like a pro. At the end of the day, I just want to win. As an athlete and as a competitor, the best thing I want to do is help my team, provide and win.”
Chase’s performance in Week 1 totaled what was tied for the second-lowest number of receptions that he has had in a game in his NFL career and tied the second-lowest number of receiving yards that he has had in the NFL.
Tampa Bay’s defensive coverages played a part in that. Wide receiver Tee Higgins got more one-on-one opportunities down the field than he often gets, and tight end Mike Gesicki was left open as he led the team five catches for 78 yards in Week 1.
“They did a good job of taking some throws away,” Chase said about his low statline. “Yeah, they took some throws away, but I still had other opportunities to make an impact in the game. Joe probably just didn’t like what he saw. That’s why he’s the quarterback and I play receiver.”
Still, the Bengals recognize the importance of getting Chase the ball more often going forward.
“It’s less of a balance and more of a ‘we’ve got to get him involved,’” said quarterback Joe Burrow, who has been limited in practice this week with a back injury but is expected to play on Sunday. “I think that sentiment was echoed from a lot of different fronts after the game, and you can’t come out of a game like that and have Ja’Marr Chase touch the ball two times. That’ll certainly be an emphasis.”
In Week 2, the Bengals will travel to face the Houston Texans. Even though Houston allowed 36 points in the season opener, the Texans’ defense is viewed as one of the best in the NFL. The Texans play a lot of aggressive coverages, challenging opposing teams to attempt aggressive plays against them.
Chase’s playmaking ability should make him a big factor in this matchup. He’ll also be going up against two-time All-Pro corner Derek Stingley, who was a teammate of Burrow and Chase’s at LSU.
“He’s a big, physical corner, understands stems and splits, route concepts and, really in my opinion, has the best ball skills in the league at corner,” Burrow said. “So you have to be aware of where you’re throwing it and how you’re throwing it against that guy.”
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