Ja’Marr Chase usually is abusing cornerbacks.
On Sunday, he turned that abuse toward a referee in a stunning meltdown, and it cost the Bengals in their 26-25 loss to the Chiefs.
Chase earned a 15-yard penalty for what referee Alex Kemp described as “abusive language” toward a referee after Chase felt the officials missed two critical calls.
That penalty ultimately forced the Bengals to settle for a field goal and those points loomed large after Cincinnati’s third straight one-possession loss to the Chiefs.
Chase tallied just four catches for 35 yards and declined to discuss his penalty.
“It’s pretty clear cut. It’s just simply abusive language toward a game official,” Kemp said in a pool report. “That’s all it was. And there was really no interpretation. I’m not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used — just abusive language.”
Kemp later clarified: “The simple answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official. That’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football.”
Chase talked a big game entering this matchup, saying the Bengals — not the two-time defending champions — are the “team to beat” in the AFC this season.
After two straight losses, both featuring underwhelming performances by Chase, Cincinnati is now just one of 10 winless teams in the league.
Chase and the Bengals had their chances, though, and perhaps the game would have turned out differently if not for the star receiver’s outburst.
Kemp said Chase believed the officials should have penalized Kansas City for a hip-drop tackle on a four-yard pass on second-and-11 at the Chiefs’ 34-yard-line with less than 11 minutes remaining and the Chiefs ahead, 23-22. The NFL banned the hip-drop tackle earlier this offseason.
It also appeared as if cornerback Trent McDuffie potentially grabbed Chase’s facemask, but that did not get flagged either.
Chase motioned for a flag that did not come, went straight toward a referee, and then followed the referee and continued to talk to him while the official walked to get the ball.
That’s when Chase received the 15-yard penalty, which turned a third-and-7 into a third-and-22. Quarterback Joe Burrow stepped in to prevent Chase from potentially being ejected.
The Bengals salvaged the drive with a field goal to go grab a 25-23 lead, but another costly penalty, this time a late defensive pass interference on fourth down, doomed the Bengals.
“It doesn’t feel great losing,” Chase said. “One play changed it all, for real. Ya’ll seen the flag on defense, so, one play.”
Chase now has just 10 catches for 97 yards and zero touchdowns through two games after failing to come to terms on a long-term extension this offseason.
Even with both he and the team off to a slow start, the former LSU star believes a playoff rematch with the Chiefs is forthcoming.
Said Chase: “I’m pretty sure we will (see them again).”
