Joe Burrow on Ja'Marr Chase: WRs Can Say 'Get Me the F--king Ball' in Different Ways

Joe Burrow has played with Ja'Marr Chase since their college days at LSU, so he knows how to read the wide receiver.

And he knows when the Cincinnati Bengals' top pass-catcher wants the ball.

"You know, when you have a guy like that, if you're not finding ways to get him the ball then he maybe isn't going to let you know directly but he'll let you know in his way for sure," Burrow told reporters Wednesday. "… On the sidelines, sometimes it's individual conversations in the locker room, sometimes it's through you guys. There's a lot of different ways that a receiver can tell you, 'hey, get me the f--king ball.'"

Burrow certainly found a way to get Chase the "f--king ball" last time out.

While Cincinnati fell just short in a 35-34 loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens on Thursday, Chase finished with 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns on 17 targets. It was an unbelievable performance and the second time in his career he went over 260 receiving yards in a single game.

He also did so when he posted 266 yards in a January 2022 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, which stands as the 16th most in NFL history for a single contest. Thursday's outing is the 19th most in league history.

Chase has received 11 or more targets in each of his last three games, so Burrow is making a point to get him the ball.

Notably, fellow wide receiver Tee Higgins was sidelined for all three of those games. Chase saw just six targets in each of the last two games he played when Higgins was on the field, so the Bengals may need to draw up ways to keep their top option more involved when they are healthier on the offensive side of the ball and not just doing so out of necessity.

Maximizing the production of both receivers will be key as Cincinnati attempts to put its 4-6 start in the rearview mirror and make a late charge in the season's stretch run.

It will have to go 5-2 or better to finish with a winning record and perhaps battle for an AFC wild-card spot, which will be easier said than done with an upcoming matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers and two remaining games against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But as long as Burrow is throwing the ball to Chase, the Bengals figure to have a chance in any contest.