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Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase has a sizable lead in all three wide receiver triple crown categories, but Joe Burrow wants to make sure his teammate finishes atop all three categories heading into the final week of the 2024 NFL regular season.
talking to reporters Before Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Burrow said the plan is to “make sure” Chase wins the Triple Crown.
“He works for it. He strives for it. He is a once-in-a-lifetime player and our careers will always be linked from college to the professional scene,” Burrow added. “It’s fun to be a part of that.”
Chase currently leads the NFL with 117 receptions, 1,612 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. It seems unlikely that anyone will surpass his touchdown mark. Terry McLaurin and Amon-Ra St. Brown are tied for second with 12 touchdown receptions.
The receptions and yards are within reach of other players, but Chase would have a hard time moving out of the top spot. St. Brown (109 receptions) and Brock Bowers (104) are the only players within 10 receptions of Chase.
Justin Jefferson (1,479 yards) is 133 yards behind Chase. No other player in the league reaches 1,200 yards entering Week 18. Jefferson is certainly capable of having a big game this week, especially against a Detroit Lions defense that is struggling to find healthy bodies right now.
It helps the race that the Bengals, Lions and Minnesota Vikings have things to play for in Week 18. A win for the Bengals keeps their playoff hopes alive, but they will need losses by the Denver Broncos and Miami Dolphins to get in.
The Vikings and Lions will play on Sunday Night Football to determine the NFC North champion and the top playoff seed.
Chase is averaging just over seven receptions and 100.8 yards per game this season. If he hits those marks against the Steelers, his final stat line of the season will include 124 receptions and 1,720 yards. That would be the 11th most receptions and 13th most yards in a single season in NFL history.
Since the NFL-AFL merger in 1970, only four receivers We have had a triple crown season. The most recent player to accomplish the feat was Cooper Kupp in 2021 (145 receptions, 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns).
