Ja’Marr Chase Accused of Using ‘Abusive Language’ Toward Official

Kansas City, Mo. — In a nail-biting encounter on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals fell short against the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 26-25. The match was marked by controversy, particularly stemming from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty involving Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase.

The incident occurred in the fourth quarter after Chase tackled by Chiefs cornerback Trent McDuffie. Chase’s claim was that he was executed a hip-drop tackle—a technique that has sparked significant debate and was banned this offseason due to injury concerns. Referee Alex Kemp, who threw the flag, detailed the confrontation in a post-game report.

Kemp explained that Chase’s inquiries about the tackle escalated to abusive language directed at the game officials, crossing the line of acceptable dissent. “The simple answer is, profanity used by grown men versus direct, personal abusive language towards a game official,” Kemp noted, emphasizing the necessity for decorum in professional sports.

Chase, who recorded four catches from five targets for a total of 35 yards, chose not to comment on the penalty following the game. The pivotal moment unfolded after Chase’s tackle led to a potential third-and-7 opportunity for the Bengals at the Chiefs’ 30-yard line, only for the team to incur a 15-yard penalty instead. This setback ultimately resulted in a field goal.

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow attempted to mitigate the situation by pushing Chase away from referee Kemp before the flag was thrown. After Chase continued to vocalize his disagreement, Burrow again stepped in to deescalate the conflict. “Just trying to deescalate the situation,” Burrow later stated, acknowledging uncertainty about what transpired during the exchange.

This incident was among several mistakes in the game’s second half that severely hindered Cincinnati, earning the team a disappointing fifth 0-2 start in six seasons. Burrow’s performance included a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Kansas City’s Chamarri Conner early in the fourth quarter, underscoring the chaos unfolding for the Bengals.

With 9:28 remaining in the game, the Bengals briefly took the lead at 25-23, thanks to a 53-yard field goal by Evan McPherson following the Chase penalty. However, that lead proved ephemeral. Later in the game, Cincinnati rookie defensive back Daijahn Anthony was flagged for defensive pass interference on a critical fourth-and-16 pass that would have secured them the victory. Although Anthony was absent for comments after the game, teammates defended his effort during that moment.

The culmination of these missteps contributed to the Bengals’ third consecutive loss to the Chiefs, dating back to the AFC Championship Game in 2022. Prior to this downturn, Cincinnati had enjoyed a three-game winning streak against Kansas City, which included a victory in the 2021 conference championship.