In one of the biggest games of the 2019 college football season, LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase had six receptions for 140 yards and one touchdown in a 46-41 victory over Alabama that cleared the way for the Tigers to march undefeated to the CFP national championship.
Patrick Surtain II was a starting cornerback for the Crimson Tide in that game. He and Chase have squared off just once since they entered the NFL in the first round of the 2021 draft – Chase as the fifth pick and Surtain as the ninth.
On Dec. 19, 2021, Chase had one reception for 3 yards for the Cincinnati Bengals in a 15-10 victory over Surtain and the Denver Broncos.
When Chase and Surtain meet again on Saturday afternoon, they’ll do so as NFL all-stars recognized among the best at their positions.
Just as they did in the 2021 game, the Bengals have Joe Burrow at quarterback and Chase and Tee Higgins at wide receiver.
“Shoot, that was early in my career,” Surtain said. “Rookie year? That was rookie year. Yeah, it was a good game. Obviously, they came in with a high-striking offense. And we knew that we had to eliminate the explosives, eliminate the top threat. And, obviously, Ja’Marr, he’s a great player -- one of, if not the best, receiver in the league. So, obviously, they got a lot going on with themselves on the offensive side of the ball with the quarterback, with the receiver, so it’s going to be a good challenge, so trying to eliminate them like how we did that that time would be great.”
Chase comes into Saturday’s game leading the NFL with 108 receptions for 1,510 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“I think he’s gifted,” Surtain said. “One thing he does, though, I see a lot of his yards come after the catch. I think he’s strong after the catch. He got very good hands, solid hands. So I think the main thing is making sure what happens in the second act and rally to the ball with him.”
Surtain has four interceptions and leads the NFL in interception-return yards with 132 this season. Opposing quarterbacks have a passing-efficiency rating of 52.2 when throwing to receivers covered by Surtain in 2024.
On Thursday, Chase said Surtain was a “good corner” and cited his size, speed and patience.
“We both know it’s going to be a good matchup,” Chase said. “It’s going to be exciting to see.”
But Chase said he wasn’t more hyped to face Surtain than any other NFL cornerback.
“I’m excited for any matchup I get,” Chase said. “It’s a part of football. You face the best in this league, and that’s why you rise up for the challenge and you want to do it, especially when you’ve made it this far.”
Surtain said the Broncos’ secondary will get a boost in its bid to stop Burrow, Chase and Higgins with the return of cornerback Riley Moss, who missed the previous three games because of a knee injury.
“It’s great to have him back,” Surtain said. “I mean, you talk about a guy that was playing lights out, obviously, before the injury. But to see him back out there with confidence, out there practicing, getting his mojo back, it brings a lot of confidence to the team as well, so it’s good to see him back in action, for sure.”
