Chase Used as Decoy on Gesicki Play

Ja’Marr Chase’s Defensive Attention Fuels Bengals’ Passing Attack

The Cincinnati Bengals can advance their offense without Ja’Marr Chase touching the ball. His presence as a receiver forces defenses to cover a significant threat, allowing quarterback Joe Burrow to exploit the resulting openings for other targets. Ahead of their matchup in Madrid, a touchdown scored by tight end Mike Gesicki against the Tennessee Titans perfectly illustrates this mechanism. On the play, Gesicki caught a 25-yard pass to the end zone. While Chase was not the intended receiver, his movement and the reaction he provoked were key to opening the path to the score, DAZN reported.

The Three-Part TD: How Gesicki Scored Behind a Chase Diversion

The touchdown was the result of a three-part offensive design. First, Chase’s movement before the snap created initial defensive uncertainty. Second, a quarterback fake to Chase provoked a specific reaction from the defense. Third, Gesicki’s route into the open space, known as a “seam” route by coaches, capitalized on that reaction. The collective effect transformed a single receiver’s threat into an opportunity for another player.

On the play, Chase began by moving from his position behind the line of scrimmage to the left side, stepping in tight behind Gesicki’s initial alignment. This motion forced the defense to track the potential threat of Chase even before quarterback Burrow received the snap. Burrow then executed a fake, a feinted pass intended for Chase, which caused defenders to react by stepping toward the left side of the field. The goal was not to move them far, but to create a slight delay or misalignment in their coverage. Gesicki simultaneously attacked the vertical space up the middle of the field. Burrow then delivered a pass to the tight end, who caught it for the 25-yard touchdown behind the defense’s reaction to the Chase diversion.

Altering Defensive Player Behavior

Using a receiver as a decoy is not simply a matter of sending him far away from the ball. It requires presenting a credible enough threat to genuinely alter the behavior of defensive players. With Chase, that credibility is inherent. Immediately before the touchdown drive, Burrow had targeted Chase on a third-down play, converting it for a 10-yard gain. This recent success gave the defense immediate and compelling reason to continue respecting Chase as a primary passing target.

“A feint towards Ja’Marr to make them move up a little, then slip into the seam,” Gesicki summarized the intention behind the play. The core of the strategy is to exploit a predictable defensive reaction. Defenders must respect the possibility of a pass to Chase, but the movement they make to contain him can inadvertently create an opening behind them. The success of the play, however, did not rely solely on the diversion. Offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher also highlighted Gesicki’s ability to identify open space and adjust his route to make the catch. The decoy creates the opportunity, but the receiver must still execute to finish the play.

Facing a Double-Risk Defensive Dilemma

For the Atlanta Falcons, this presents a double-risk defensive dilemma. Reacting too aggressively to Chase’s movements can leave the middle of the field vulnerable to plays like the Gesicki touchdown. Conversely, focusing solely on interior coverage to prevent that specific outcome can leave Chase open to exploit his direct threat on other plays. The solution is not simply to instruct defenders to stop covering Chase. Instead, it requires clear communication about receiver movements and a strict adherence to coverage responsibilities even after a fake is executed.

This does not mean the Bengals will run the exact same play against the Falcons, nor does it mean Atlanta will employ a specific defensive scheme. However, the sequence demonstrates why measuring the effectiveness of defending Chase is not limited to his individual receiving statistics. The attention he demands can also make his teammates more dangerous, creating a significant challenge for opposing defenses.

Upcoming Match Details

The Bengals will face the Falcons in Madrid. For broadcast schedules and information, a complete guide to the matchup is available. The NFL Game Pass on DAZN provides access to every moment of the 2026 NFL season and includes features like NFL RedZone, NFL Network, Game in 40, Sunday in 60, and Multiview. DAZN also offers extensive coverage of NCAA college sports under a separate subscription, with flag football available for free.

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