### Struggling Bengals Aim for Redemption in Prime-Time Clash with Giants

The Cincinnati Bengals are determined to prove they are more than their disappointing 1-4 record suggests, said star wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase on Thursday. Despite a strong performance last week, the Bengals fell just short in a 41-38 overtime defeat to the Baltimore Ravens. Chase emphasized that the numbers don't lie, but the team is eager to turn things around, starting with their upcoming Sunday night game against the New York Giants.

"This has to be the game we set the standard, right here, and leave it all on the table," Chase stated during a news conference.

Cincinnati’s four losses have come by a narrow margin of 15 points combined. This marks the Bengals' worst start since 2019, which was head coach Zac Taylor's inaugural season and the precursor to quarterback Joe Burrow joining the squad. Burrow was chosen as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after Cincinnati endured the league's worst record the previous season.

Between their collegiate years at LSU and their tenure with the Bengals, Burrow and Chase have played six seasons together, and this one has seen remarkable individual performances. Burrow is currently second in the league in Total QBR and leads the NFL in passing touchdowns with 12. Chase, with five of those touchdowns, is tied for first in receiving TDs and is second in receiving yards.

While Cincinnati's offense ranks among the league’s best, their defense lags, a factor that could spell trouble against Giants’ rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers. Nabers, also an LSU product and a top-10 draft pick, has been likened to Chase. Despite missing last week’s game due to a concussion, Nabers is seventh in receiving yards and leads in targets with 35.

Chase revealed that he had exchanged texts with Nabers early in the week about a jersey swap after Sunday's game. Whether Nabers will play remains uncertain as he continues to navigate concussion protocol. Giants coach Brian Daboll confirmed Nabers' status remained unchanged since Wednesday, as he missed practice again on Thursday.

Facing criticism for their defensive shortcomings, Bengals players convened a meeting on Wednesday to address their underperformance. Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt stressed the importance of changing the narrative.

"We're trying to prove everybody wrong at the end of the day, but [also] prove ourselves right, bigger than anything," Taylor-Britt said. "Everybody in this locker room is the only people that believe in us. We got to keep it that way."

Statistically, teams with a 1-4 start have a less than 6% chance of making the playoffs—a daunting figure revealed by ESPN Research. Nonetheless, Chase remains optimistic about his team’s potential to turn the season around against New York.

"I know we can do it just because [of] the people we have around us," Chase said. "No one in this locker room wants to quit or has quit in them."

As they prepare for their prime-time showdown with the Giants, the Bengals are determined to demonstrate their true capability and change the course of their season.