{"id":28210,"date":"2025-07-14T15:03:42","date_gmt":"2025-07-14T15:03:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28210"},"modified":"2025-07-14T15:03:42","modified_gmt":"2025-07-14T15:03:42","slug":"breaking-jamarr-chase-crowns-denzel-ward-as-his-toughest-rival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28210","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Ja\u2019Marr Chase Crowns Denzel Ward As His Toughest Rival"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ja\u2019Marr Chase tore through the 2024 season, topping the NFL in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns to secure the rare triple crown. When it came to naming his toughest matchup, the Cincinnati Bengals star didn\u2019t flinch\u2014he singled out Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward without hesitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s easy. I mean, Denzel,\u201d said the Bengals superstar. \u201cIt\u2019s twice a year. It\u2019s one on one majority of the time. He got great feet. He knows leverage, he knows splits. He\u2019s one of the best I like playing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Ja\u2019Marr
Oct 20, 2024; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) breaks up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) during the fourth quarter at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-Imagn Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Since entering the league in 2021, Ja\u2019Marr Chase has faced the Browns seven times, with Denzel Ward active for five of those matchups. In those five games, Chase has totaled 32 catches on 51 targets for 359 yards and three touchdowns, per Pro Football Reference\u2014averaging 6.4 receptions and 71.8 yards per outing. Solid production, but below Chase\u2019s usual standard, giving weight to Ward\u2019s reputation as a tough cover.<\/p>\n

Ward hasn\u2019t shadowed Chase on every snap, but his presence has clearly made a difference for Cleveland\u2019s defense.<\/p>\n

Jalen Ward with the Browns<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\"Ja\u2019Marr
Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) reacts to a third down stop during the first quarter of an NFL football matchup Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024 at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Browns defeated the Jaguars 18-13. [Corey Perrine\/Florida Times-Union]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Last season, Ward piled up 49 tackles, paced the NFL with a career\u2011high 19 pass deflections, snagged two interceptions, forced a fumble and recovered one. In a Browns defense that yielded 342.1 yards per game, he provided one of its rare defensive sparks.<\/p>\n

Cleveland needed every bit of it. After showing signs of progress in 2023, the Browns collapsed in 2024, limping to a 3-14 record and missing the playoffs for the third time in four years. The season quickly unraveled, but Ward\u2019s consistent impact offered one of the few reasons for optimism.<\/p>\n

\"Ja\u2019Marr
Dec 17, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) is introduced before the game between the Browns and the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Injuries have been a challenge throughout Denzel Ward\u2019s career, but he managed to suit up for a personal-best 16 games last season. And in both matchups against Cleveland, he helped keep Ja\u2019Marr Chase in check\u2014limiting the star receiver to fewer than seven catches and under 100 yards each time.<\/p>\n

The Browns and Bengals will reignite their rivalry to kick off the 2025 NFL season on September 7 in Cleveland, with a rematch set for the final weekend in January. While plenty of subplots will unfold, all eyes will be on the next chapter in the battle between Ja\u2019Marr Chase and the corner who continues to challenge him the most.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward gainst the ultimate praise from Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":28211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28210","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cincinnati-bengals"],"yoast_head":"\nBREAKING: Ja\u2019Marr Chase Crowns Denzel Ward As His Toughest Rival - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28210\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"BREAKING: Ja\u2019Marr Chase Crowns Denzel Ward As His Toughest Rival - Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Cleveland Browns defensive back Denzel Ward gainst the ultimate praise from Bengals superstar wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28210\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-07-14T15:03:42+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/vge45t4.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MrKen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MrKen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28210\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/breakingnews.azontree.com\/?p=28210\",\"name\":\"BREAKING: Ja\u2019Marr Chase Crowns Denzel Ward As His Toughest Rival - 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