The Bengals' offense was stifled in its season opener in Cleveland on Sunday, failing to score a single touchdown against the division rival Browns in a surprising 24-3 defeat.
After the game, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who had talked some trash leading into the Week 1 showdown, admitted that he felt some regret about chirping at his opponents.
“It’s frustrating because I called they a-- elves, and we lost to some elves,” said Chase to reporters. “I’m pissed on my part, I’m pissed on that end. Like I said, we got missed opportunities, we didn’t capitalize on that sh--, and we lost. That’s how we lost.”
“It’s frustrating because I called they ass elves and we just lost to some elves.”
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) September 10, 2023
Ja’Marr Chase after losing to the Browns. 😂pic.twitter.com/DFAYE7VCdB
Chase was targeted nine times in the loss, catching five passes for a team-high 39 yards. Quarterback Joe Burrow, who became the highest-paid player in NFL history on Thursday, had just 82 passing yards on the afternoon.
“It don’t feel no different. It’s just the hooping and hollering about the Cleveland Browns. I was about to call them the elves,” said the 23-year-old on Thursday ahead of the season opener, via FOX 19’s Jeremy Rauch. “I don’t really hear it. If you ask me, I don’t really pay attention to it because Cleveland is Cleveland.”
"It's a regular game to me."
— Jeremy Rauch (@FOX19Jeremy) September 7, 2023
"It's just the hooping and hollering about the Cleveland Browns. I was about to call them the elf's (elves)."
Ja'Marr Chase doesn't want to hear about the #Bengals recent struggles against the Browns. @fox19 pic.twitter.com/adiQ20Y6iO
Browns defensive end Myles Garrett later called those comments “bulletin board material,” and Cleveland responded on the field with a resounding defensive performance and a statement victory.
