The Kansas City Chiefs‘ 26-25 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals will hardly go down as an NFL classic but it was certainly tense at the Arrowhead Stadium as Joe Burrow rushed to calm an incensed Ja’Marr Chase on September 16, leaving dans divided.
The moment came when Chase was adjudged to have committed unsportsmanlike conduct after the umpires decided there was no hip-drop tackle offense on the wide receiver, who was furious at the call.
Whilst the 24-year-old made sure he let the officiating crew know what he thought of the decision in the fourth quarter, he then cost his team a 15-yard penalty for arguing leading to Burrow to rush over as the game hung in the balance.
The ex-LSU quarterback pushed Chase away from the officials and yelled in his face after the receivers’ lack of composure cost his team crucial ground in their attempt to beat Patrick Mahomes‘ Chiefs.
“It’s pretty clear cut, it’s just simply abusive language toward a game official,” referee Alex Kemp told Ben Baby. “That’s all it was and there was really no interpretation.
“I’m not going to repeat to you what he said, but there was no interpretation with the language that he used, just abusive language.
“Profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official, that’s the line. When that line gets crossed, we simply can’t let that happen in pro football.”
Chase was also spotted talking with his head coach, Zak Taylor, on the sidelines whilst he also threw his helmet into the ground too.
Additionally to costing his team yards, as Harrison Butker went on to kick the Chiefs to victory, Chase will also likely be fined too.
Who do the Bengals play in Week 3?
The Bengals have now kicked off their 2024/25 NFL season with a shock defeat to the New England Patriots and Sunday’s defeat to the Kansas City Chiefs, leaving them third in the AFC North.
They will look to finally get their season started in Week 3 against the Washington Commanders on September 23, with the game expected to kick off at the Paycor Stadium at 20:15 ET/17:15 PT.
