Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase made headlines on Sunday with a strong gesture towards Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
The below photo of Chase delivering the “double bird” gesture to Fitzpatrick during Sunday’s Week 1 game — a 23-20 victory for Pittsburgh in overtime — has gone viral.
While speaking to reporters, Chase was asked what led to him delivering the gesture to Fitzpatrick. However, Cincy’s star wide receiver opted to not discuss the matter.
The Steelers and Bengals played in one of the craziest Week 1 games in recent memory. Even though Joe Burrow threw four interceptions and took seven sacks, the Bengals came oh-so-close to winning the game on two occasions.
With two seconds left in regulation, Burrow found Chase in the end zone to tie the game at 20 apiece. However, Evan McPherson’s game-winning extra point attempt was blocked by none other than Fitzpatrick.
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In overtime, the Bengals drove down the field and set up McPherson for a game-winning 29-yard field goal. But the snap was high, and McPherson missed the field goal wide left by a country mile.
On the ensuing drive, Steelers kicker Chris Boswell missed a game-winning 55-yard attempt. Pittsburgh’s defense forced a Cincinnati punt, and the Steelers finally won the game when Boswell made good on a 53-yarder.
Though it was a frustrating loss for the defending AFC champions, Chase did his part by racking up 10 receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown. The 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year and his Bengals will try to move to 1-1 on the year when they visit the Dak Prescott-less Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
In the offseason, Fitzpatrick signed a four-year contract extension worth $74 million. Aside from his game-saving blocked extra point, the Pro Bowl safety racked up 14 tackles, one pass defensed and a pick-six. The Steelers host the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in Week 2.
