As the Los Angeles Rams prepare to take on the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, one matchup that is already generating headlines is Jalen Ramsey against the elite receiving core of the Bengals. Particularly, Ja’Marr Chase, who has emerged as one of the league’s best receivers in his rookie season.
Chase had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns during the regular season and has kept it going with 20 catches for 279 yards and one touchdown in three playoff games. But the Bengals’ wide receiver core doesn’t stop there, as their No. 2 and No. 3 of Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd represent a lethal combination of pass-catchers.
Higgins — in his second NFL season — had 74 catches for 1,091 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season. He’s added 14 catches for 209 yards in the playoffs thus far. This means that Ramsey and the Rams secondary have plenty of work ahead of them.
Ramsey gave high praise to the Bengals wide receiver core, calling it among the best trios in the NFL, according to Cameron DaSilva of USA Today:
“I think they’re really good, one of the best trios in football right now,” he said Friday. “I’ve been a fan of all of them, honestly even when they were in college I was watching them. I thought they were really good and what they’ve done in the league has been really, really good, as well. They’ve all been balling. They all have special, unique talents and they have a good connection with their quarterback and good rhythm within their offense. Got a lot of respect for them, young guys coming into the league early and ballin’ like that, a lot of respect for ‘em.”
Focused on his individual matchup with Chase, Ramsey spoke about the ways to slow him down after perhaps the greatest rookie receiving season in NFL history.
“Tackling. It can just be that simple. Tackle well, that’s how you limit yards after the catch,” he said. “Like I said, I respect him. I think he’s a good receiver. I was a fan of his game when he was at LSU. I thought he was a baller. Thought he’s done well. Look at what he’s done this year. He’s been ballin’. He’s made history for that franchise. This is a big game for him in Year 1, but it is what it is. I gotta hold up my end, as well. It’ll be fun.”
About 45% of Chase’s yards this season came after the catch, an absolutely absurd number for anyone, let alone a rookie. For reference, about 38.1% of Davante Adams’ yards came after the catch, a great number for a player who’s widely considered the league’s best receiver.
Cooper Kupp — who just finished one of the all-time great regular seasons — saw 43.4% of his yards come after the catch. This is just another testament to how electric Chase has been with the ball in his hands this season.
So for Ramsey, Darious Williams, and the entire Rams secondary, tackling has to be the emphasis throughout their week of practice. They simply cannot afford to let Chase, Higgins, and Boyd get whatever they want. But more than any team the Bengals have faced thus far, the Rams are likely the best equipped to stop what they do best.
Zac Taylor praises Cooper Kupp
On the flip side, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor had plenty of positive things to say about Kupp, the Rams’ leading receiver. During their time together with the Rams, Taylor learned that Kupp is perhaps one of the smartest players in the NFL, further pointing to an elite wide receiver battle in Super Bowl LVI.
