Ja'Marr Chase typically overworks his cornerbacks.
On Sunday, he lashed out at the referees in a stunning outburst that led to the Bengals' 26-25 loss to the Chiefs.
Chase was penalized 15 yards for what referee Alex Kemp described as a “verbal abuse toward the officials” after he felt the officials missed two important calls.
The penalty ultimately forced the Bengals to settle for a field goal, which proved to be significant after Cincinnati had lost three straight games by one point to the Chiefs.
Chase had just four catches for 35 yards and declined to comment on the penalty.
“This is pretty clear. It's simply an abuse directed at a match official.” Kemp said in the pool report.“That's it. There was no interpretation whatsoever. I'm not going to repeat what he said, but the words he used, there was no interpretation, just expletives.”
Kemp later explained, “The answer is simple: there's a difference between foul language used by adults and personal abuse directed directly at a referee. That's the line. Once you cross that line, that can't happen in professional football.”
Heading into this matchup, Coach Chase boasted that the “team to beat” in the AFC this season is not the two-time champion, but the Bengals.
After two straight losses highlighted by a disappointing performance from Chase, Cincinnati is one of 10 winless teams in the league.
But Chase and the Bengals had their chances, and the outcome of the game may have been different without the star receiver's explosive performance.
Kemp said he thought Chase should have penalized Kansas City for a hip-drop tackle on a 4-yard pass on second down and 11 from the Chiefs' 34 with under 11 minutes left and the Chiefs leading 23-22. The NFL banned the hip-drop tackle earlier this offseason.
There was also a chance that cornerback Trent McDuffie grabbed Chase's facemask, but that was also not called a foul.
Chase signaled for a flag, which was not produced, and instead walked straight toward the umpire, following and talking to him as the umpire walked off to retrieve the ball.
Chase was penalized 15 yards, turning a third-down 7 into a third-down 22. Quarterback Joe Burrow stepped in to prevent Chase from being ejected.
The Bengals salvaged the drive with a field goal to take a 25-23 lead, but another major penalty, this time a defensive pass interference late on fourth down, cost the Bengals the game.
“Losing doesn't feel good.” Chase says“Really, it was one play that changed everything. Everybody saw the defensive flag, so it was one play that decided it.”
Chase was unable to agree to a long-term contract extension this offseason and now has 10 catches for 97 yards and zero touchdowns in two games.
Though he and his team are off to a slow start, the former Louisiana State University star believes a playoff rematch with the Chiefs is on the way.
“I'm sure we'll see them again,” Chase said.
