Bengals' Ja'Marr Chase reveals why Jake Browning is creating a happier locker room

The Bengals thought their 2023 season went down the drain when QB Joe Burrow was ruled out for the rest of the season. However, with the emergence of backup QB Jake Browning, players seem to have a little extra pep in their step, especially WR Ja'Marr Chase.

It certainly took a transition period when switching between the two quarterbacks, but Chase says there's a little more smiling going on in the locker room now.

"Jake's more playful than Burrow," Chase told reporters. "Jake's going to smile with you like on the regular. Joe's just going to walk past you, look at you and then keep going. He's just not going to smile all the time. Joe's just more tunnel-visioned than Jake."

Of course, that doesn't mean Chase would take Browning over Burrow, who has led Cincinnati to back-to-back AFC title games and a Super Bowl appearance. But it feels as though nobody should be counting out the Bengals quite yet.

The 27-year-old has completed 50-of-61 for 629 yards, three touchdowns and just one interception the past two weeks, and he is surely looking to stay hot against the Vikings (7-6) come Saturday.

This Bengals team has a different feel compared to previous years when many feared them. Now they seem to be the underdogs with a confident Browning leading the way, and that may just make them more dangerous.

Cincinnati's remaining schedule won't be easy as its final four opponents combine for a 30-22 record. But the team has already defeated two playoff teams (8-5 Jaguars and 7-6 Colts) in the last two weeks, proving it can still hang with anyone.

It will all depend on if Browning can continue playing at a high level for the rest of the season. If he can, the Bengals could catch the rest of the league by surprise.