Cincinnati Bengals: 3 bold predictions for Week 3 vs. Steelers
Ah, the bold prediction article for the Cincinnati Bengals. As a fan, we all like to make bold, sweeping predictions for our team. Sometimes it is bad, but generally, it is all good. Rarely however is it all boring!
Part of the appeal of the “bold prediction” piece is the entertainment value. Rock-solid analysis, logic, and common sense can all go by the wayside if but for a moment to project absolute craziness for the home team.
As primarily a fantasy analyst, it goes against my nature to make bold, outrageous predictions for my team. Fantasy has taught me to view matchups with a critical eye and focus on how our individual squads can maximize our lineups and score points.
As this week’s author of the Bold Predictions column, I’m eschewing fantasy and swinging for the fences. After all, the best part about bold prediction is you can be wrong! However, if I am right, I look like freaking David Blaine! Minus the spooky, weird stare of course.
Either way, I am going to approach my bold predictions as the fun exercise it should be. Remember, these won’t all be correct, but let’s enjoy the “what if”, shall we?
1. Ja’Marr Chase makes history — For the Bengals at least
Bengals’ first-round rookie and the bane of every Penei Sewell fan’s existence, Ja’Marr Chase, has been as good as advertised thus far. Chase has seven grabs for 155 yards and two touchdowns in his first two games.
Sunday against the hated Steelers, Chase has the chance to put his name in the Bengal record books. Through the first two games of his career, Chase has matched A.J. Green as the only Bengal to have a touchdown reception in his first two career games. Another touchdown grab against Pittsburgh and he eclipses Green’s record. Pretty cool, right?
Well, if that isn’t enough, Chase also matched someone named Sammy White, who is the last rookie receiver since 1976 to have touchdowns of more than 40 Yards in his first two career games. Ironically White was a Viking, the team Chase torched in Week 1 to begin his career.
If Chase can hit another deep ball for a touchdown he will do something none of the Bengal greats before him did. Despite the fact that Bengal history isn’t the richest, especially since 1990, the team has had some very, very good receivers (Carl Pickens, Darnay Scott, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Peter Warwick, Chad Johnson, A.J. Green, to name a few) and now Chase has the chance to get his fledgling career off to a faster start than any of these luminaries.
Chase accomplishes that this Sunday, Zac Taylor willing. Sunday at Heinz Field, against arch-rival Pittsburgh, in a game that could challenge the balance of power in the AFC North, Ja’Marr Chase will set a Bengal record that may never be broken.