CINCINNATI -- For the second straight week, Cincinnati Bengals star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was heated. This time, however, was much more public.
One week after delivering a fiery halftime speech in Baltimore, Chase was visibly frustrated during the team's 43-36 overtime victory over the Tennessee Titans. The two-time All-Pro wideout spiked his helmet during one occasion on the sideline and was seen sitting by himself after what appeared to be some impassioned comments a few minutes later.
But when it counted, Chase was able to cool down. He made two key catches in overtime to help the Bengals avoid a dumbfounding loss.
Bengals coach Zac Taylor not only downplayed Chase's emotions but said he didn't mind the display.
"He may be mad at me, he may be mad at whoever," Taylor said. "I trust him to go out there and do his job. That doesn't change anything.
"I kind of like it, to be honest with you. It's something different to deal with. It's kind of good. I like the competitiveness from our guys."
Chase finished with 11 catches for a season-high 141 yards and one touchdown. Chase's receptions in overtime -- a 17-yarder early in the only offensive drive and a 14-yard catch later -- set up quarterback Joe Burrow's 9-yard touchdown run that proved to be the winner.
But those numbers could have been even better. Late in the third quarter, Chase got open on a double move and created a maximum of 2.79 yards of separation from Titans cornerback Joshua Williams. However, the ball hung in the air long enough for Amani Hooker to get his third interception of the day for the Titans (1-7).
When Chase got back to the sideline, he spiked his helmet in frustration. Then with 6:59 left in the game, Chase again appeared to be agitated and eventually walked down toward the end of Cincinnati's bench and took a seat. Aside from tight end Mike Gesicki, who came down occasionally to chat briefly with him, Chase was alone.
Burrow, who finished with six total touchdowns and three interceptions, took a stab at why his longtime friend and former college teammate at LSU was upset.
"A lot of different things," Burrow said. "It was an emotional game. I didn't hit him on the deep one, and we turned it over too many times. He wants to win and wants to execute on every snap -- as do I. That's how it goes."
When Chase met with reporters after the game, he declined comment on why he was upset other than agreeing that he "probably was." And with the Bengals (5-2) headed to Madrid in two days for next week's game against the Atlanta Falcons, he was happy Cincinnati was able to escape Sunday with a win.
"When we got the ball first [in overtime], we've just got to put them away," Chase said. "At the end of the day, that's what it's all about. We know how good we are on offense. Go down there and put it away and get it over with."