Last Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs had an off-day following their narrow 27-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens three days prior. Kansas City fans watched the rest of the NFL kickoff their 2024 season, with the biggest upset occurring in the first slate of games. Despite entering their home opener against the New England Patriots as more than a touchdown favorite, the Cincinnati Bengals stumbled to a 16-10 defeat. Cincinnati won’t have long to adjust as they travel to Kansas City to play their AFC foe this weekend.

However, one Bengals star, wideout Ja’Marr Chase, believes his squad owns the title of “Team to Beat in the AFC,” albeit just winning two playoff games in the past two seasons. Chase also emphasized his team’s disdain for the Chiefs while expressing this Sunday’s tilt as an opportunity for the offense to get back on track. Kansas City Chiefs fans were shocked by the star receivers’ comments.

Kansas City Chiefs Fans Explode Following Ja’Marr Chase Remarks

Cincinnati Bengals Ja'Marr Chase looks at the scoreboard as his team is defeated by the New England Patriots 16-10 at Paycor Stadium Sunday, September 8, 2024. The Bengals lost 16-10. © Cara Owsley / USA TODAY NETWORK
Cincinnati Bengals J. Chase looks at the scoreboard as his team is defeated by the New England Patriots 16-10 at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 8, 2024. The Bengals lost 16-10. © Cara Owsley / USA TODAY NETWORK

According to Jay Morrison of Pro Football Network:

Ja’Marr Chase: We’re the team to beat in the AFC. We need to act like it, and we need to play like it.

 

Chase went as far as claiming the whole NFL knows the Cincinnati Bengals are the team to beat in the AFC, and it’s just a matter of when, not if, they put it together. When quarterback Joe Burrow is healthy, the Bengals have consistently competed for AFC Championship titles. From 2021 to 2022, the only two fully healthy seasons by Burrow, the Bengals made the AFC Championship Game twice, facing off against the Kansas City Chiefs both times. They are 1-1 in those games. Meanwhile, since Chase’s rookie season in 2021, the Chiefs have won two Super Bowls while making the AFC title game each season.

Chase praised Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuola but stopped there, reiterating these two teams’ disdain for each other. In his three games against Kansas City, Chase has posted 21 catches for 404 yards and three touchdowns. Although Chase never took a direct dig toward the Kansas City Chiefs, fans of the AFC West squad did not take kindly to him calling the Bengals the team to beat in the AFC:

Kansas City Chiefs
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) scrambles in the third quarter of the AFC championship NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, January 29, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The Kansas City Chiefs advanced to the Super Bowl with a 23-20 win over the Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals At Kansas City Chiefs AFC Championship January 29, 592 (NFL Kansas City Chiefs players)