Bengals’ Ja’Marr Chase scores jaw-dropping first touchdown of the season after lackluster Week 1 start
It was a quiet week for Cincinnati Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase in the team’s home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But Chase never stays quiet for long in the NFL, and he proved it with his first touchdown grab of the season against the Houston Texans, that you must see to believe.
In classic Chase fashion, it was jaw-dropping.
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Ja’Marr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans during the second quarter at NRG Stadium on Sept. 20, 2026, in Houston, Texas. (Getty Images)
Both defenses started this game at NRG Stadium with stellar play. In turn, neither team found their way onto the scoreboard in the first quarter.
However, the Bengals’ defense came through with a big shift of momentum, as Dexter Lawrence burst through the offensive line and tackled Texans running back David Montgomery to turn the ball over on downs as Houston couldn’t find the line to gain.
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Quarterback Joe Burrow and the Bengals used that momentum to go 81 yards downfield for the first score of the game, and it was all thanks to Chase’s outstanding hands.
On first-and-10 from Houston’s 32-yard line, Burrow decided to take a shot to his favorite target, who he saw with single-man coverage. It was a true jump ball scenario for Chase, he was hugging the sideline, and it looked like he might run out of room.
But somehow, Chase contorted his body, located the ball, snagged it out of the air, and kept both feet in the end zone for one of the best touchdown grabs of the season thus far.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase catches a touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL game against the Houston Texans in Houston on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Ashley Landis)
Chase was nonchalant with his touchdown celebration, but his Bengals teammates were in awe as they rushed over to him to celebrate.
Last week, despite the Bengals’ winning efforts, Chase was held to just two catches for 12 yards. Meanwhile, players like tight end Mike Gesicki (five catches, 78 yards, one touchdown) and running back Chase Brown (56 rushing yards, 22 receiving yards, one touchdown) opened the season on a strong note.
However, that’s how the NFL goes sometimes, even if players are superstars and key weapons for their teams. It is only a matter of time before Burrow gets Chase involved more, and it’s plays like this that prove why the star receiver is invaluable to the Bengals’ success.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase catches a touchdown pass as Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. looks on during the first half of an NFL football game in Houston on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (David J. Phillip)
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There is still work to go for the Bengals, though, as it was just 7-3 at halftime against a Texans team looking to rectify their 36-31 loss to the Buffalo Bills at home in Week 1.
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