CINCINNATI — Students wanted to send support some of there favorite Cincinnati Bengals players ahead of the upcoming playoffs, according to our news partners WCPO in Cincinnati.
Ja’Marr Chase, Mike Hilton, Evan McPherson and Cordell Volson read cards from Middletown students at Creekview Elementary School in the locker room Wednesday afternoon.
“Go Bengals,” said Volson, reading a card from Ashton. “Try your best. You can do it. I am confident.”
Hilton told WCPO he loved the cards, noting how much receiving letters means to him and his teammates.
“Just knowing how much support we have and knowing what we mean to the city of Cincinnati,” Hilton said. “Trying to be role models to kids, there’s no better feeling. So, it’s really appreciated.”
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Some cards had drawings of quarterback Joe Burrow throwing to Chase and one card caught his attention, WCPO reports.
“The most valuable player is the one who makes most players valuable. Opportunities don’t happen, you create them,” the student wrote in their card.
“I like this one actually,” Chase said. “Love you, too.”
Center Ted Karras read one card from Trinitiy telling the team, “You can win and you are the winner.”
“This is a little boost as we go into the playoffs,” Karras said. “I’m gonna hang this up in my locker from Trinity and hopefully it will inspire us to victory.”
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McPherson says the cards show the Bengals have the entire region behind, according to WCPO.
“These are awesome,” said McPherson. “(It’s) a reminder that the city’s behind us and we have a lot of kids and adults behind us, rooting for us. It’s pretty cool.”
Sunday will mark the third time the Bengals and Ravens have played this season. The Ravens won the first game, 19-17, on October 9 but the Bengals beat Baltimore on Sunday, 27-16, in Cincinnati.
The Bengals and Ravens will play Sunday night at 8:15 p.m. at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, the winner will advance to the AFC Divisional Playoffs.
News Center 7 will have coverage of the Bengals and Ravens leading up to the game.
This includes the Orange Zone Sunday morning, January 15, at 11:30 a.m. with News Center 7′s Brandon Lewis providing live coverage from Paycor Stadium on Sunday.