In Week 9 of the 2025 NFL season, the Cincinnati Bengals nearly completed one of the more improbable comebacks of the year. From scoring two touchdowns late, along with recovering an onside kick, the Bengals took a late 42-41 lead over the Chicago Bears.
However, with the Bengals up just one point, a field goal would win the game. The Bears got a whole lot more when Colston Loveland knifed through the defense on a brutal missed coverage and poor tackling display for a 58-yard touchdown.
The frustrations over the Bengals’ defense only grew after this brutal loss. After the game, Ja’Marr Chase let his feelings be known both on the way to the locker room and inside of it. Though the two messages differed slightly in tone.
Ja’Marr Chase takes jab at Bengals defense, plans to ‘stay in my lane’
Yanni Tragellis of Local 12 News shared a video of Chase on his way to the locker room after the heartbreaking loss. Chase was heard saying, “One (expletive) stop.”
“One f***ing stop” Ja’Marr Chase pissed off heading into the locker room after the Bengals 47-42 loss to the Bears. pic.twitter.com/5Em5B5aZzY
— Yanni Tragellis (@yannitragellis) November 2, 2025
Chase was clearly frustrated with his defense, expressing the same feelings Bengals fans and Chase Brown felt about the defense. Just one stop, and the Bengals would be in the win column. It’s the second straight week of the defense not getting just one more stop.
In the locker room, Mike Petraglia of CLNSCincy.com shared Chase’s comments on the game overall. When asked about whether he’d go to the defense and express his grief over their play, Chase gave a candid, NSFW response to that question.
“I’m going to stay in my lane,” Chase said. “I don’t want no defensive players to come and chew me out about what the (expletive) I’m doing.”
Ja’Marr Chase growing tired of postgame press conferences like this. Asked how hard is it when you’re losing? “It’s not fun when you’re losing…. I’m going to stay in my lane. I don’t want no defensive players coming chew me out about what the f—k I’m doing.” pic.twitter.com/cyKzNoOUDr
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) November 2, 2025
While Chase expressed his frustrations with the defense on the way to the locker room, he didn’t directly call anyone out or express an intention to do so while in the locker room.
Chase wasn’t the only one frustrated with the defense, as the fans and Brown also shared the same disbelief over Cincinnati’s defensive performance.
When asked about how Chase deals with losses like this one, the Bengals superstar sounded defeated. “It’s not fun when you’re losing,” Chase said. “I don’t know, I’ve never been in this situation. I don’t know how to handle it. I’m just trying to stay positive.”
When the Bengals scored the go-ahead touchdown with under a minute to play, after their miraculous onside kick recovery, Chase had one thought in mind: “Defense, get a stop.”
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But, just like a week ago against the New York Jets, the defense couldn’t get that one stop when it mattered most. Just like in Week 8, the Bengals’ defense allowed their opponent to score the game-winning touchdown.
Except this time, it was a lot worse. The Bengals’ defense had forced a 3rd and 10, but Caleb Williams scrabbled up the middle for a 14-yard gain. But that scramble took time off the clock, and the Bears, from their own 42-yard line, still had a ways to go.
But Williams connected deep over the middle to Loveland. If the Bengals’ defense tackled the Bears’ rookie right where he caught it, Chicago would’ve been in field goal range, but it would be far from a certainty. Instead, the defense missed the tackle, and Loveland scored the 58-yard touchdown in a crushing loss for Chase and the Bengals.
Chase’s frustration and NSFW comments on the defensive collapse point not only to internal issues with the team, but also highlight the need for change. The Bengals’ loss to the Bears was deflating, and it has seemingly become the nail in the coffin for the season.
Heading into a Week 10 bye, the Bengals will have plenty of time to regroup. But it might be with a different-looking roster, as the NFL trade deadline is just two days after this brutal collapse.
