“I still got 100 yards, so I don’t care,” Ja’Marr Chase told the Cincinnati media three days prior to the Broncos-Bengals Monday Night Football matchup.
“You can’t tell me he even stopped me,” Chase added for good measure.
Of course, he was commenting on last year’s one-on-one matchup with reigning Defensive Player of the Year Patrick Surtain II. The media had just noted that “not a lot of (the 100 yards)” came against Surtain.
“I had two passes that were thrown behind me – two on him,” Chase offered. “So, if you really want to go there, I can go there. I know what I did last year, just saying.”
To be fair, Chase was not popping off. Rather, he was likely doing what any proud, highly-skilled athlete would do – showing no fear of, and making no admissions for, an opponent. The best don’t offer anyone a mental edge. Chase, without a doubt, is one of the NFL’s very best.
So, too, is Surtain.
Prior to Monday Night’s matchup, the numbers favored Surtain. The first time they met, Chase had just one catch for three yards on four targets when Surtain matched up with him man-to-man. Last season, Chase did have 100 yards, but the direct matchup with Surtain yielded similar results.
“According to the NFL, of those 36 coverage snaps, Surtain was in man coverage on 29 Chase routes and Chase was targeted six times for three catches and 27 yards. Against other Broncos defenders, he had nine targets for six catches and 75 yards.”
One-hundred-and-two-yards. Chase wasn’t wrong.
But he also missed – perhaps dodged – the point: Up until Monday, Surtain had gotten the better of Chase.
After Monday, Surtain might as well take ownership of him.
“Man yall better leave me alone man,” Chase wrote on X. For good measure, he chased the note with three laughter emojis.
Lol, Ja’Marr.
The Bengals wideout had good reason for not wanting to hear it. According to Next Gen Stats, on Monday night, “Surtain allowed just one reception for 8 yards across 13 coverage matchups with Chase, including 0 receptions on 10 matchups in man coverage.”
Additionally, “Surtain has now matched up against Chase on 54 career routes and allowed 4 receptions for 35 yards.”
Emojis aside, that’s probably no laughing matter to Chase. In total, he finished the game with five catches for 23 yards. Not only does Chase have Surtain in his back pocket, but Cincy’s quarterback situation is truly sad. It was a double whammy that made Chase, a four-time Pro-Bowler and a 2024 All Pro selection, look pretty mediocre.
“Every matchup is the same, man,” Chase advised the media before the game.
But are they really?
This one appears to be different. Surtain shined… again.
“You gotta want it,” Chase said after the game, perhaps suggesting that not everyone in orange and black gave it their best effort at one mile above sea level.
Chase might have wanted it, but Surtain sure didn’t let him have it. Chase is great at his craft. Surtain is better at his.
How one interprets Chase’s pregame comments likely depends on the state in which they live, but most reasonable onlookers wouldn’t consider them overly egregious. Besides, it’s hard to get into a war of words with one of the NFL’s quietest superstars.
When it was all said and done in Denver, though, Patrick Surtain II shut down, then shut up, Ja’Marr Chase.
And the Broncos are suddenly back in business.
