Cincinnati Bengals: Troy Walters Breaks Down Ja’Marr Chase Drive
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters on Nov. 10, 2026, broke down how Ja’Marr Chase seized control of a pivotal second-quarter drive that put the Bengals in command of their Week 9 victory over the Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on Nov. 8, 2026. Walters reviewed tape of the possession, during which Chase made five catches for 69 yards and helped set up a four-yard touchdown from quarterback Joe Burrow that gave Cincinnati a 21-10 lead. Walters highlighted Chase’s route variety, sideline awareness and physicality as the reasons the sequence swung momentum. The breakdown was presented in a club story by Geoff Hobson.
Walters described the drive-opening 31-yard reception in which Chase feigned a deep route, cut underneath, created separation and ran through tackles for substantial yardage. He also detailed a third-and-1 play where Chase, the lone receiver, lunged back to secure an 11-yard catch for the first down, and a remarkable sideline reception where Chase kept both feet in bounds after a leaping grab. Walters noted a holding call on cornerback A.J. Terrell later in the sequence that extended the possession and underscored how Chase’s strength and physical play pressured the Falcons into mistakes. Those plays combined to shift momentum and give the Bengals control for the remainder of the half.
According to the club story, Next Gen Stats showed seven of Chase’s 10 catches Sunday came on underneath targets (fewer than 10 air yards), and quarterback Joe Burrow saw that look on more than 80 percent of his 34 drop-backs and hit on 19 of 24 passes for 223 yards. Burrow’s three touchdown passes against single-high coverage tied for the most by any quarterback in a game this season. Walters emphasized how the Bengals used Chase in multiple alignments and option routes to exploit those looks, noting Chase can line up in the slot, at the No. 3 spot, and operate in one-on-one isolations. The drive finished with Tee Higgins’ four-yard touchdown, his 50th career scoring catch, which gave Cincinnati sustained control of the game.
Walters placed Chase’s performance in franchise context, observing that Chase has climbed the Bengals’ career receiving lists and surpassed figures such as Carl Pickens and Isaac Curtis in yardage. He noted Chase sits six touchdowns shy of passing Chad Johnson for the franchise touchdown lead through 2025 totals referenced in the story. Walters pointed to the complementary play of Higgins and Chase as a significant challenge for opponents, saying defenses must pick their poison when facing two high-level receivers. He added that the coaching staff will continue creative route concepts and tape study as the team shifts focus to its upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Walters’ breakdown underscores how Ja’Marr Chase’s combination of physicality, route savvy and sideline awareness creates explosive opportunities even when targeted on shorter throws. The Next Gen Stats details about underneath targets and single-high coverage success illuminate why Cincinnati repeatedly found room against Atlanta’s looks and why Joe Burrow and Chase function as an efficient tandem. Tee Higgins’ touchdown to finish the drive reinforces that opponents cannot focus solely on Chase without risking production from another elite receiver. As the Bengals prepare for their next matchup, the film study shows defenses must decide whether to play more two-high safety shells or live with mismatches in one-on-one coverage against a deep receiving corps.