CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow & Ja’Marr Chase continue to make history together.
They have been teammates at LSU since 2018, when they won seven of the postseason games together, breaking NFL and NCAA records.
They will be Super Bowl champs if they can extend their streak by one more.
They have 4-0 together in their postseason stretch, which includes the 2019 national championship win over Clemson.
In the midst of Chase’s rookie season as Cincinnati Bengals receiver, the two teams won three thrilling playoff games in just three weeks, en route to their first Super Bowl in 33-years.
Brian Callahan, Bengals offensive coordinator, saw it this way: The duo picked up from LSU and are just getting better together.
Callahan stated, “You can feel it and see it.” “They communicate well with one another.”
After winning the Heisman Trophy and the national championship, Burrow was the top overall draft selection in 2020. A knee injury ended Burrow’s NFL rookie season. The Bengals were 4-11-1 and finished last in the AFC North.
After being ruled out of the 2020 season by COVID-19, Chase was the fifth overall draft pick in 2021. He and Burrow combined for 107 receptions, 2,093 yards, and 23 touchdowns in 2018 and 2019.
The Bengals won the AFC North this season (13-7). Chase had more receiving yards than any rookie in Super Bowl history (1,455), and set the single-season record. Burrow completed 70%, for 4,611 yards and 34 touchdowns, 13 to Chase.
Burrow stated that “I believe we just have a lot more reps together.” It doesn’t matter how many times you throw a particular route with a guy, or how many times it takes to talk through the looks you might see from the defender on that route, regardless of whether he’s inside or outside. We have probably more reps than most people.
Chase stated it like this: “Sometimes Joe might never even look at me and I know his thoughts.”
Chase’s greatest moment might have been his clutch catch in the final seconds of the Divisional Round playoff game against Tennessee Jan. 22.
With 20 seconds left, Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson intercepted Ryan Tannehill at Bengals 47.
To win the regulation game, Cincinnati needed to be within field-goal range. Burrow ran to Chase on the right sideline, and he went 19 yards to the Tennessee 34. As time expired, Evan McPherson, a rookie quarterback, split the uprights with an easy 52-yarder.
The Bengals defeated the Kansas City Chiefs last week to become AFC champions. They won a 27-24 overtime win, decided again by McPherson’s field goal.
Chase stated, “Everything is an opportunity.” Chase said, “We continue to have opportunities in front of our eyes, and we keep taking them advantage.”
Coach Zac Taylor stated that he does not know the exact process of Burrow and Chase, but he hopes they can make more big plays for the Bengals as they face the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl February 13.
Taylor admitted that she has not seen the process of them trying out that chemistry. It was there when I first saw them and I can see a lot behind the scenes. I don’t like to see what they talk about when the coaches aren’t there, but it’s great to hear their conversations. This is what you want. This offense should be taken over by the players.
