Ja'Marr Chase won't shut up: A timeline from "Elves" to "Lovely" showers

It's hard to know if the Cincinnati Bengals have generated more headlines over the past few days because of their on-field performance (or lack of it) or because of everything they have said off of it, namely wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.

After starting the season getting demolished 24-3 by fellow AFC North resident Cleveland in a Sunday to forget, it looks like the Bengals have not learned everything and they keep talking the talk but not walking the walk.

Everything started with Ja'Marr Chase nearly calling Cleveland the "Elves" instead of the Browns, something he later reaffirmed, and the wideout is now back at burning mics ahead of the Week 2 game against Baltimore.

There is a lot to unpack here, so we're determined to Chase (pun intended) everything that was said and done during the past week and change.

Here's a timeline of everything Chase has said and done in the past few days before and after the loss against the Cleveland Browns and ahead of his matchup against our superhero Cuervos on Sunday.

1. Ja'Marr Chase before Week 1: "I was about to call them the "Elves"

With the Bengals coming off a postseason run that saw Cincy reach the AFC Championship game only to fall three points (and three seconds) short of reaching their second Super Bowl in a row, cocky attitudes were high all around Ohio last midweek.

That's at least how Chase made it sound, as he was asked about the Bengals Week 1 game against the Brown and all he had to say was "It feels like a regular game to me, no different."

That's not bad, but what came after that statement is what broke the internet. Per Cleveland.com, quoth Chase: "I was about to call them the Elves."

Of course, the... Browns were 8-2 entering last Sunday and Cleveland (the Cleveland Browns, just in case) exited it boasting a 9-2 record in their last 11 meetings and a solid 5-1 against QB Joe Burrow.

Chase was referring to the Brown's logo. He was asked if he thinks the elf logo is silly, to which Chase said "Uh, it's funny--it's just different, I guess."

When Chase went to sleep on Sunday, the Browns were 1-0 and the Bengals were 0-1 with the "Elves" beating the Cats 24-3 and Chase grabbing five passes (on nine targets) for 39 yards. Uh, oh.

2. Ja'Marr Chase after Week 1: "It’s frustrating because I called they ass elves and we just lost to some elves.”

Chase wouldn't relent, man. Of course, it was too late to backtrack and say sorry in any way, let alone after the Bengals dropped a stinker in Week 1 falling 24-3 and failing to score more than a single freaking field goal.

No problem for Chase, who kept up with the whole "Elves" things after the trouncing (h/t Complex).

Chase, he of the 39 receiving yards on five grabs, said losing that matchup was frustrating "because I called their ass elves" and the Bengals "just lost to some elves."

His personal feelings? "I'm pissed on my part," Chase said per Ben Baby of ESPN. "I'm pissed on that end. We missed opportunities, we didn't capitalize on that s*** and we lost," the wideout finished.

After putting up a rock-solid 9-2 record against the Bengals in their past 11 meetings, and a stout 5-1 record in games started by QB Joe Burrow, the Browns (not the Elves) will face the Cats once more in the season finale next January.

Start buying and setting up the fireworks, because it's more than probable you'll need them.

3. Ja'Marr Chase before Week 2: A chance for showers? "Lovely"

One of the main excuses Bengals fans have found and used to explain their team's 24-3 loss to Cleveland last Sunday in the past few hours and days has been the weather they had to play under.

Let me tell you, I've seen worse. You don't even have to break a sweat to find some. Heck, even the very own NFL put together a tidy list not long ago you can feel free to go and check (after you finish reading this timeline, of course).

Chase was offered a forecast for Sunday's matchup between the Bengals and the Ravens by Olivia Ray of WLWT, who told the wide receiver that there is "a chance for showers" in Cincinnati.

Chase's answer? A "Lovely" one.

Yes, it rained in Cleveland last Sunday. Yes, it might rain in Cincy next Sunday. But the Bengals didn't lose that Week 1 game because of the weather.

Joe Burrow completed 14-of-31 passes. He didn't even reach 85 yards on the day. He was benched for freaking Jake Browning, who could be your cousin. And it's not that Chase helped his team or his quarterback just one bit.

Chase has been targeted 9+ times in 18 different games through Sunday. Last weekend marked his second-worst game under that volume of targets, as he only hauled in five receptions for a meager 39 yards. Only once, against the Jets in 2021, did he grab fewer passes and put up lower yardage.

It's still early to know how the upcoming game between Cats and Ravens will end, let alone how the final standings will look, but Chase and his squad are facing an ominous start to the year if they fall to Baltimore next Sunday.

Cincy can fall 0-2 in the AFC North if Baltimore beats the Bengals, with the Ravens going up 2-0 and facing a much brighter future if that's the case.

"We gotta adjust to the weather and play football," Chase said on Thursday. "Can't make any excuses."

Not fully trusting that'd be the case, even less coming from Ja'Marr Chase, but we'll let you know about Chapter 4 of this whole 2023 Chase Tour next Monday if adding any further updates to the story is worth it.

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