Ja'Marr Chase is proving why he's one of the NFL's elite wide receivers on Sunday in Madrid.
The Bengals and the Falcons are currently battling it out in Spain, and it's been the Joe Burrow-and-Ja'Marr Chase show as the Bengals have established a second-half lead in the first Sunday game of Week 9.
Chase opened the action against the Falcons with Cincinnati's first score, answering an early touchdown for the Falcons by hauling in a 4-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 7-7. He continued to make incredible plays throughout the first half, recording a one-handed catch before breaking a tackle and running for a first down, and setting up Cincinnati's second touchdown with a 13-yard reception that put Cincinnati on Atlanta's one-yard line.
Ja'Marr
Chase's first half in Madrid... 142 yards, 8 catches, 47-yard touchdown 🔥 CINvsATL on NFL Network Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dqBRCHgTFJ
— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2026
He would also take a slant pass across the middle over 30 yards, make an incredible diving catch on 3rd & 1 to secure a first down, drag his toes on a highlight-reel sideline catch to move the chains on 3rd & 9, and secure a 1st & Goal on a 12-yard catch to set up Cincinnati's third score of the afternoon – all on the same drive. He finished the first half with 142 yards and one touchdown on eight receptions.
That stat line in the first 30 minutes of action marks the most first-half receiving yards by a Bengals wide receiver since 1988. The game is still ongoing, and Chase has been silent so far in the second half. But if the Bengals maintain their lead and walk out of Madrid with a victory over the Falcons, Chase's first-half performance will be viewed as critical to the win.
Ja’Marr Chase’s 142 receiving yards are the most by a Bengals player in a first half since 1988!
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) November 8, 2026
Chase did it all in the half...
🏈55 YAC
🏈2 broken tackles
🏈A one-handed catch
🏈A toe-tapping catch pic.twitter.com/aW2Mb3fjeX
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: Ja'Marr Chase makes history with electric first half effort in Week 9
