On the first play of the fourth quarter in Saturday night's crucial game against Pittsburgh, in which the Bengals needed a win to keep alive their slim playoff hopes, quarterback Joe Burrow dropped back and lofted a pass near the left sideline, toward receiver Ja'Marr Chase.
On the play, Chase was well-covered, and Burrow underthrew him on a back-shoulder throw (it can be debated, however, whether Burrow meant to put the ball that far back) that looked impossible for Chase to reach. But Chase spun into a complete-180, reached up, grabbed the ball and tapped his toes down just enough to secure a first-down catch for 15 yards, one that set up a field goal to give Cincinnati a 19-7 lead.
It was a remarkable catch. And on a night in which Chase set the mark as the first player ever to reach 1,700 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns, it was a highlight play.
Among the many who took notice was Raiders star Maxx Crosby, who went to Twitter/X in the moments after Chase's amazing catch. Perhaps thankful he is not a defensive back, Crosby posted about Chase's heroics.
"Ja'Marr Is Ice Cold..." he wrote.
By the middle of the fourth quarter, Chase had nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. Whether that would be enough to hold the Steelers at bay remained to be seen, and whether it would be enough to get the Bengals to the playoffs would depend not only on sealing Saturday's win, but on getting help on Sunday.
Even with a win in Pittsbrugh, the Bengals need the Broncos to lose to Carson Wentz and the Chiefs, and the Dolphins to lose to the Jets. It's a longshot, but both the Broncos and Dolphins are slight underdogs in Week 18. Ja'Marr is, indeed, ice cold, but will need some luck to bring that chill into the postseason.
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