The Cincinnati Bengals notched a closely-contested victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1, securing a 33-27 final score at Paycor Stadium. The Bengals accomplished this victory with an almost non-existent outing from superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who finished the game with two catches for 12 yards on just four targets from quarterback Joe Burrow. Cincinnati's leading receiver was tight end Mike Gesicki, who reeled in five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.
While the Bengals came out victorious in Week 1, offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher admits that the team didn't get Chase nearly involved enough in their season-opening contest. "We didn't throw him the ball enough," Pitcher said on Wednesday, via reporter Mike Petraglia. One of the first guys I talked to after the game." Given his elite talent and importance in the Bengals' offensive scheme, it's fair to assume Chase won't have a performance this inconsequential for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The superstar pass catcher is likely to see an increased target share in Sunday's Week 2 matchup against the Houston Texans. This weekend's Bengals-Texans matchup will kick off at 1 p.m.
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