Burrow, Chase play role in building Super Bowl-bound Bengals
Associated PressLOS ANGELES — The key to the Bengals’ latest rebuild that has led them to this most unexpected Super Bowl run starts with one player: Joe Burrow. By adding Chase, who had 81 catches for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season, to a group that also included Tee Higgins, a second-round pick in 2020, steady slot man Tyler Boyd as well as running back Joe Mixon gave the Bengals plenty of playmakers to help Burrow. The Bengals did use three 2021 draft picks on guard Jackson Carman, guard D’Ante Smith and center Trey Hill, but the line is still a major work in progress. And I think bringing in extra guys the next year and the draft picks they’ve all taken hold of that and the guys who stayed, they pushed through and really survived.” The free agent signings also provided veteran leadership in addition to the talent upgrade as the team used late interceptions to help clinch wins in all postseason victories in their run to the Super Bowl.