The Bengals’ 35-point outburst against Baltimore gave JD Vance plenty to cheer about, and the vice president made sure one player in particular got his flowers.
Vance took to social media after Cincinnati’s blowout win over the Ravens, praising the team as a whole while singling out Ja’Marr Chase for a small gesture that clearly meant a lot to his family.
“Huge win for Cincinnati. Proud of the entire team, but special shout out to Ja'Marr Chase, an amazing talent, who made my little six-year-old's year by noticing his football gloves,” Vance wrote.
“It's early, but I think the Bengals are going to make a run. Who Dey!”
That came after Chase helped power the Bengals’ comeback in Week 7, when Cincinnati dug out of a 13-0 hole against a Ravens team without Lamar Jackson and ripped off 35 straight points. Joe Burrow threw for 292 yards and four touchdowns in the win. Chase finished with five catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, while Tee Higgins topped the team with 148 yards and a score.
Vance had already spent time around the team earlier in the week. On Wednesday, Oct. 21, he was at Bengals practice, though Burrow said the two never really connected.
“He came with everybody and left with swiftness and efficiency before the end of practice,” Burrow said about the vice president's visit.
Burrow also talked about what it’s like when a crowd shows up to watch the team work.
“A lot of people around. That's what I love about what I do,” said Burrow when asked about having everyone at practice.
“It brings a lot of people together, and people want to take time out of their day to come and watch what we do, watch what I do, and watch all the work that I've put in to come and watch greatness. That's everybody in the locker room; that's why we do what we do.
Whether it's on the TV, whether it's in-person, whether it's on the practice field, that's what we do.”
In Other News...
Bengals Fans May Need To Rethink The Jonathan Taylor Dream
The Colts latest roster reset has only added fuel to a familiar Bengals fan dream, with Quenton Nelson and DeForest Buckner already moved for mid-round draft picks and Jonathan Taylor suddenly sitting in the middle of the conversation. From Cincinnatis side, the appeal is obvious. A proven running back would be an easy fit for a team always trying to maximize its offensive options, and any opening in Indianapolis tends to get dissected quickly around the league.
But the price tag is where the idea starts to wobble. With the Bengals still mindful of their salary cap and the rest of the roster to consider, paying premium draft capital for a back is a tougher sell than it might look from the outside. Cincinnati has not been framed as the front-line destination here, which leaves the door open to other Colts names or a different running back path entirely if the market for Taylor keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Face A Familiar Pressure Spot Against The Titans
A trip into Week 8 brings Cincinnati to a spot it has rarely occupied under Zac Taylor: a heavy favorite with the expectation not just to win, but to win comfortably. The Bengals are laying 10.5 points against Tennessee, a number that reflects the gap between the rosters and the pressure that comes with being asked to dominate from start to finish. For a team trying to stack wins in a season that still has room to define itself, the spread is its own kind of measuring stick.
The tricky part is that this kind of setup has not always been kind to Cincinnati. The Bengals have had a hard time cashing in as double-digit favorites over the years, and their recent history in those spots has not exactly inspired confidence even when the matchup looks favorable on paper. Taylor and Joe Burrow have generally handled the role of favorite well against the spread, but this one carries the kind of familiar pressure that can make a supposed mismatch feel a little less simple once the game starts. [Read more 🡒]
Former Bengal Is Outplaying Cincinnati's Defensive Centerpiece Right Now
The Bengals made a major move by trading their 10th overall pick for Dexter Lawrence, banking on his presence to help stabilize the middle of the defense. It was the kind of transaction aimed at raising the ceiling of a unit that needs difference-makers up front, and Lawrences impact has been part of the conversation ever since.
But there is an awkward twist in the early returns: D.J. Reader, the former Bengal now elsewhere, is sitting ahead of Lawrence among interior defenders in PFFs Week 8 rankings. And another familiar face, Trey Hendrickson, was back in the picture recently when he faced Cincinnati with Baltimore and raised some eyebrows with comments that hinted at a focus problem in the Ravens own locker room, a reminder that ex-Bengals keep popping up in the middle of the AFC Norths bigger defensive storylines. [Read more 🡒]