Joe Burrow wasted little time looking like himself again in the Bengals’ 2026 opener, and Cincinnati’s offense had Tampa Bay on its heels from the start. The Bengals built long, efficient drives all afternoon, and by halftime they had already opened up a 14-point lead.
Still, one play late in the second quarter could bring a postgame bill from the NFL.
On a 10-play, 70-yard march that ended with a Cincinnati field goal, Burrow tucked the ball and ran up the middle for 12 yards. As he was heading down, Buccaneers safety Tykee Smith delivered a hit that drew a flag for unnecessary roughness.
The penalty did not affect the result of the drive, since the Bengals had already put points on the board. But the league is now reviewing the play separately, and Smith could face discipline.
Under NFL guidelines, a late hit on a quarterback can lead to an $11,941 fine for a first offense. If the league decides Smith used his helmet in an impermissible way on the play, the fine could rise by as much as $23,882.
That review process happens every week as the league examines game film for possible punishment, regardless of whether officials flagged the play in real time.
Burrow’s return was his first season opener since he missed nine games last year with a turf toe injury, and he finished the day in strong form as Cincinnati beat Tampa Bay. Smith and the Buccaneers now wait to see whether the league adds anything more to the penalty already handed down on the field.
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Andrei Iosivas Brings An Unexpected Off-Field Twist Into Bengals Opener
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Bengals Suddenly Face A Tougher Opener Than Expected
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Marvin Lewis Sees One Real Edge For These Bengals
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Lewis also noted that the division is not standing still, with changes coming in Baltimore and Pittsburgh, but he seemed to think Cincinnati has a real edge if it keeps its core together and keeps building around it. He even singled out Dexter Lawrence as part of the defensive mix that gives the Bengals more hope than they had a year ago, though the real test, as always, will come once the games start and the standings begin to sort themselves out. [Read more 🡒]