In the latest Ja’Marr Chase finger-pointing saga, it’s the Bengals’ sorry excuse for a defense that the star receiver is singling out this time.
Chase said Cincinnati’s offense feels as if it has to score on every drive now to win, with 38 points not being enough Sunday when the defense allowed 44 to the Steelers in the loss.
“That’s kinda our expectations now,” Chase said. “Got to find a way.”
The Bengals have an elite offense and a terrible defense, and the latter often undermines the former’s strong showings.
They rank fifth in points scored per game and tied for 29th in points allowed per game.
Cincinnati (4-8) has now lost four times when scoring at least 30 points and five times when tallying at least 27 points.
Had one or two of those losses gone a different way, the Bengals would not be in a dire spot entering their Week 14 “Monday Night Football” road game against the 5-7 Cowboys.
In what some could have labeled a must-win Sunday at home against the Steelers, the Bengals allowed 520 yards and Pittsburgh notched their season-high in points.
The defense’s regression has been stunning considering the strong units Cincinnati has employed in recent years under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.
“I don’t know,” Chase said when asked if the defense’s struggles are a surprise, “they need to find a way, we got to find a way.”
Chase has not been one to hold in his frustrations during what seemingly will be a lost season, having previously called out head coach Zac Taylor in November after another tough loss to the Chargers.
The former LSU star tallied six catches for 86 yards and one touchdown against the Steelers in what’s been a fantastic year for the fourth-year pro, but it’s all for naught with the losses piling up.
Chase said it’s “hard to process” that the team can’t win despite scoring in the 30s.
“We can’t get a win right now,” he said.