Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja'Marr Chase has ignited the budding AFC rivalry with the Kansas City Chiefs by refusing to acknowledge Patrick Mahomes as the top player in the league, instead deferring to his own quarterback, Joe Burrow. Chase's comments highlight the growing animosity between the two teams and the emerging rivalry between Mahomes and Burrow, two of the most promising young quarterbacks in the NFL.
The rivalry between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs is heating up, fueled by a snub from Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. In a recent NFL social media clip, Chase was asked to name the top player on the league's Top 100 list in 2024. Unsurprisingly, reigning MVP Patrick Mahomes was the consensus choice, but Chase refused to acknowledge him.
"I'm not saying him," Chase said. "I give credit when it's due, but I'm not saying his name. … I'm not saying his name, brother. I'm sorry. Joe Burrow — I'm not saying that guy's name."
Chase's comments not only suggest a rivalry between the Chiefs and Bengals, who met in the AFC Championship Game in 2021 and 2022, but also a budding rivalry between Mahomes and Burrow, the Bengals quarterback who is widely considered one of the best in the NFL — outside of Kansas City.
"He's good. He's amazing," Chase said of Mahomes. "Not gonna lie, I'm salty, though. I'm a little salty. Two years in a row — I'm putting Burrow first."
The animosity between the Chiefs and Bengals took a back seat last season when Cincinnati fell out of the playoffs after Burrow suffered a season-ending hand injury in November. But Burrow — with a flashy new haircut — is now healthy, and his longtime friend and teammate Chase appears set on making sure the tension between their Bengals and the heavyweight Chiefs stays high.
Chase's snub of Mahomes is just the latest chapter in the growing rivalry between the two quarterbacks. Burrow has been praised for his leadership and clutch play, while Mahomes has won two Super Bowls and established himself as one of the most dynamic and exciting players in the league.
The Chiefs and Bengals are expected to be among the top contenders in the AFC again next season, and the rivalry between the two teams — and Mahomes and Burrow — is sure to be one of the most compelling storylines to watch.
Whether Chase's comments will add fuel to the fire or simply serve as a playful jab remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: the Bengals-Chiefs rivalry is not going anywhere, and it promises to be more intense than ever in 2023.
In addition to the budding rivalry between Mahomes and Burrow, the Bengals-Chiefs matchup features several other intriguing storylines. The Chiefs have a veteran defense led by Chris Jones and Frank Clark, while the Bengals boast a young and talented offense that includes Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd.
The two teams also have a history of playing close, high-scoring games. Their last two AFC Championship Game matchups were decided by a total of just six points, and both games featured spectacular performances from Mahomes and Burrow.
With both teams expected to be among the top contenders in the AFC again next season, the Bengals-Chiefs rivalry is sure to produce another thrilling chapter in 2023.
