The Cincinnati Bengals secured a 33-31 comeback victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Thursday night at Paycor Stadium.
Ja’Marr Chase delivered a record-breaking performance as Cincinnati prevented Pittsburgh from gaining early control of the division standings.
With Joe Flacco making just his second start under center, the Bengals targeted Chase relentlessly from the opening series.
The strategy produced historic results as he shattered his own franchise record for receptions in a single game while joining an elite statistical company.
Chase hauled in 16 receptions to establish a new Bengals franchise record, surpassing the most productive outing of his 69 career NFL games.
In just his second game with QB Joe Flacco, Ja'Marr Chase set a single-game Bengals’ record: pic.twitter.com/VJ9vygb7xI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 17, 2025
He broke his own mark, eclipsing the 15-catch, 192-yard, three-touchdown performance he recorded against the Cardinals in 2023.
Chase now holds both first and second place in team history for single-game receptions, though he still trails the NFL’s all-time benchmark of 21 catches set by Brandon Marshall for the Broncos in 2009.
Flacco threw 47 passes in the Week 7 victory, and nearly half went in Chase’s direction.
The star wideout drew 23 targets, accounting for a massive 48.9 percent target share in the offensive game plan.
Chase seemed almost surprised by his own historic output, admitting he didn’t realize he’d caught 16 passes.
“I thought I had nine,” he said, noting it didn’t feel like that many.
Those catches converted into 161 yards and a touchdown, while Tee Higgins added six receptions for 96 yards and his own score.
Chase reflected on their combined production as the natural result of the duo’s reunion, saying it “was supposed to happen” when both committed to returning to the team.
The performance reinforced Cincinnati’s offensive firepower and kept its division hopes alive heading into the second half of the season.
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