No Joe Burrow, who has a 3-2 record against the Steelers. No Tee Higgins, at least as of Wednesday and Thursday, the leading active NFL receiver against Pittsburgh. Heading into Sunday’s Almost Wild Card game at Paycor Stadium (1 p.m.-Cincinnati’s Channel 12), Ja’Marr Chase is sounding more and more like a leader and not just the record-breaking two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver.
The man whose name is virtually synonymous with Burrow after winning an undefeated collegiate national title and AFC championship with him (not to mention two previous November games against the Steelers), is set to be there for Jake Browning in his first NFL start.
“I remember saying to my guys, telling the receiver room specifically,” Chase recalled Wednesday of the last training camp Burrow missed all but two days with a strained calf. Attack the day every day like it’s Joe. You never know when we might need Jake again. When the opportunity comes, we’ll be ready for it.'”
Chase is coming off two catches for 12 yards in Baltimore for the second-fewest yards of his 39-game career. All but four of his 239 catches, 38 of his 3,334 yards, and one of his 28 touchdowns have come from Burrow. His two catches for 26 yards in the finale of his rookie year from Brandon Allen gave him the franchise’s single-season receiving yardage title with 1,455 and his one catch from Browning was Browning’s only NFL touchdown pass on a two-yard pylon fade.
Browning doubts they could have pulled off if it hadn’t been for a training camp’s worth of reps.
“We worked that this offseason a little bit. Actually, we had a little trouble with that route and it showed,” Chase said. “(On Thursday we had) good timing, ran a good route, perfect throw. Just timing. It goes back to the offseason. I’m glad we attacked those days when we had the opportunity.”
Head coach Zac Taylor is talking about having his entire playbook for Browning to use. Offensive coordinator Brian Callahan is…
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