Things tend to get heated between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals. Sunday was no exception.
With roughly 13 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter ofPittsburgh's 34-12 win,cornerback Jalen Ramsey and Bengals receiver Ja'Marr Chase got into it. Chase spit on Ramsey, and Ramsey punched him in retaliation.
Officials missed the spit that led to the punch. They ejected Ramsey, while Chase was allowed to remain in the game.
Here's the larger view of the dust-up and Ramsey's ejection, with CBS broadcast video clearly showing that Ramsey punched Chase, but not catching evidence of Chase's spit.
Jalen Ramsey has been ejected from the game! Ja'marr Chase takes a hit to the facepic.twitter.com/yWnjwQJ4Fi
— Rate the Refs (@Rate_the_Refs)November 16, 2025
But video from on the field emerged postgame that clearly shows Chase spitting on Ramsey. Ramsey immediately retaliated with a punch.
Field-level view of the second altercation between Ja'Marr Chase and Jalen Ramsey. Chase said "I didn't spit on nobody."The video clearly shows he did.#Bengals@FOX19pic.twitter.com/ooGzInoPdS
— Austin Briski (@austin_briski)November 16, 2025
Making matters worse for Pittsburgh, Ramsey's unsportsmanlike conduct penalty turned a would-be fourth-and-1 for the Bengals into a first down.
The Bengals had feigned going for it on fourth down prior to the penalty, but didn't draw the Steelers offsides and appeared ready to punt or attempt a long field goal without the first down.
Jalen Ramsey speaks postgame
Before the video evidence emerged, Ramsey told reporters that Chase spit on him.
Warning: NSFW language in video below
#SteelersDB Jalen Ramsey on what led to him punching Bengals WR Ja'Marr Chase.#HereWeGopic.twitter.com/JobLuCWV9X
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe)November 16, 2025
"He spit on me. So, it's up," Ramsey said. "I don't give a f*** about football after that. Respectfully."
Chase denied that he spit when he clearly did
Chase told reporters after the game that he did not.
"I didn't spit on nobody."Here is what Ja'Marr Chase had to say about his altercation with Jalen Ramsey:pic.twitter.com/PRRnqWt4kw
— Noah Hiles (@_NoahHiles)November 16, 2025
"I ain't never opened my mouth to that guy," Chase said when asked if he spit on Ramsey. ... "I didn't spit on nobody."
Chase instead characterized as the leadup to Ramsey's punch as "exchanging words."
"He don't like some of the stories I told him," Chase said. "We'd been going back and forth the whole time. So I'm straight. Something got under his skin."
Officials acknwoledge they didn't see spit
Again, these comments were all provided before clear video evidence emerged. Chase should expect some followup questions the next time he speaks with media and discipline from the NFL that officials on the field failed to dole out. An NFL spokesman said after the game that thatthe league will look further into the incident.
Game referee Bill Vinovich, meanwhile, told pool reporter Brian Batko that officials did not see Chase spit on Ramsey.
"No. Obviously we did not,"Vinovich said. "We did not see anything that rose to that level at all."
Tensions escalated throughout game
Things were heated prior to the spit and punch. Ramsey and Chase had been jawing at each other since the first half. And they each received offsetting unsportsmanlike penalties for a confrontation after the play prior to Ramsey's ejection. Each player had grabbed the other's face mask and squared off before officials broke it up.
They were both warned that another unsportsmanlike penalty would result in a disqualification. Ramsey would likely have been ejected regardless of his prior penalty because of his punch. Chase did not retaliate to the punch and remained on the field for the Bengals when officials didn't see him spit.
The penalty advanced Cincinnati to Pittsburgh's 29-yard line for first-and-10. But the Bengals couldn't capitalize with a touchdown. They settled for a field goal to cut their deficit to 20-12 after a Nick Herbig sack of Joe Flacco pushed the Bengals into third-and-17.
A pair of late defensive touchdowns allowed the Steelers to blow open the game. Pittsburgh improved to 6-4 and remained in control of the AFC North. The Steelers secured the win despitelosing quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Jaylen Warren to injuryand playing the fourth quarter without Ramsey.
The loss dropped the Bengals to 3-7 and further out of the playoff picture as theyawait the anticipated returnof starting quarterback Joe Burrow.