NFL fans have spent the summer waiting for the season's first Sunday slate to start. Ja'Marr Chase, on the other hand, just learned a key component of the Cincinnati Bengals' Week 1 itinerary. The Bengals open the season by hosting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a game that kicks off at 1 p.m.
Chase told reporters Thursday that he didn't realize Cincinnati had an early-afternoon start time, and he's not happy about it. "Well, I'm finding out the game's at 1 o'clock," Chase said, per WCPO 9's Caleb Noe. "I don't like that, to be honest.
I do not like playing 1 o'clock games, so that means I got to wake up earlier than usual." The star wide receiver may need to set an alarm to make sure he arrives at Paycor Stadium on time for the Week 1 tilt. "I don't have a wake-up call, but I'm about to make one now," Chase said. Asked how he was just learning the start time when the NFL released the schedule in May, the 26-year-old said he doesn't look that far ahead.
"My job is to work, not the schedule," Chase said. "I'm not worried about the schedule. They've gotta worry about us, too.
I'll worry about it when it gets here." That start time hasn't hindered his performance, as Chase has averaged 85.4 receiving yards in 50 career early-afternoon games compared to 76.7 yards in a dozen late-afternoon contests. But he shines at night, amassing 127 catches for 1,647 yards and 13 touchdowns in 16 evening games. Unfortunately for Chase, the Bengals play each of their first eight games at 1 p.m.
He then must stave off jet lag when Cincinnati heads to Madrid to play the Atlanta Falcons in a game that starts at 3:30 p.m. local time. However, Chase may then enjoy back-to-back primetime contests. The Bengals face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football in Week 10 and the Washington Commanders in Week 11's Monday Night Football matchup.
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