{
  "id": 9122658,
  "title": "Ja’Marr Chase says defense is the Bengals’ ‘backbone’ this season",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/jamarr-chase-says-defense-is-the-bengals-backbone-this-season",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-22T10:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/ja-marr-chase-says-defense-101500928.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ja’Marr Chase, Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver (2024), delivered glowing praise for his team's defensive unit during the early weeks of the 2024 NFL season. Chase's admiration for the defense was evident in his statements, describing it as the \"backbone\" of the squad. The defensive players have provided the Bengals with the necessary energy to complement the offensive efforts, particularly under the leadership of Joe Burrow.\n\nThe Bengals made a significant push to revamp their roster this offseason, signing prominent veterans such as Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Bryan Cook to spur a new culture. This investment in the defense has paid off in the early weeks of the season, with the unit showcasing dominant performances against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Houston Texans. These victories have left the NFL world in awe, as Cincinnati has started the season 2-0 for the third time in franchise history.\n\nJa’Marr Chase, known for his candid media presence, has consistently shown his appreciation for the new defense, which has not complemented the Bengals offensive efforts in recent years. His comments reflect the optimism surrounding the team's progress under the new leadership.",
  "summary": "The revamped defense continues impressive start.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}