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NFL OROY 2022 Odds: Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase Jumps Mac Jones After 3 TD-Game vs. Chiefs

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 3, 2022

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
AP Photo/Jeff Dean

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase did more than help the Cincinnati Bengals clinch the AFC North title with Sunday's 34-31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

He also became the favorite to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

DraftKings Sportsbook provided updated odds Monday, and Chase is listed at -225 (bet $100 to win $44.44). New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is now listed at +175 (bet $100 to win $175).

Quarterbacks often take home individual awards, but the two players and teams have trended in opposite directions of late.

Cincinnati has won three straight and will host at least one playoff game after clinching the division. New England has lost two of three and is in wild-card position after falling behind the Buffalo Bills in the AFC East.

Chase, who has 79 catches for 1,429 yards and 13 touchdowns on the campaign, was unstoppable against the Chiefs with 11 catches for 266 yards and three touchdowns. Kansas City often left him in single coverage, and Joe Burrow didn't hesitate to unleash throws downfield and let the receiver make plays.

The performance moved Chase into the record books:        

Field Yates @FieldYates

Most receiving yards by a rookie in NFL history:<br><br>1. Ja'Marr Chase, 2021: 1,429<br>2. Justin Jefferson, 2020: 1,400<br><br>From college teammates to instant NFL stars.

As for Jones, he stands out compared to his fellow rookie signal-callers and has completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 3,540 yards, 21 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. 

While there is no doubt his situation with the Patriots was better suited for immediate success than that of Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars), Zach Wilson (New York Jets) and Justin Fields (Chicago Bears), he has taken full advantage of it and played New England into the postseason picture.

Still, he had four interceptions during a two-game losing streak prior to helping his team defeat the lowly Jaguars on Sunday. He also attempted a mere three passes during a win against the Bills right before the two-game losing streak that dropped the Patriots out of first place in the AFC East.

The Offensive Rookie of the Year now seems to be Chase's to lose, and another dominant performance in the Week 18 matchup with the Cleveland Browns would clinch it.