The Buccaneers open the season with a tough road test against the Bengals, and the matchup immediately puts Tampa Bay in a high-pressure spot. Cincinnati brings one of the league’s most dangerous offenses, with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase leading the charge, so this isn’t the kind of opener where anyone gets to ease in.
But Tampa Bay does walk in with one edge that matters a lot: Baker Mayfield.
Mayfield has spent most of his career carving up Cincinnati. In seven starts against the Bengals, he’s gone 6-1 with 19 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.
He also came off the bench against Cincinnati during his Panthers stint and added two more touchdown throws, which pushes his total to 21. Among active quarterbacks, only Lamar Jackson and Joe Flacco have more touchdown passes against the Bengals, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman.
Mayfield’s 115.0 passer rating against Cincinnati is also his third-best mark against any opponent, trailing only the Jaguars and Commanders.
That history gives Tampa Bay a real chance to keep pace if this game turns into a track meet.
The concern for the Buccaneers is on the other side of the ball. They finished No. 27 against the pass last season, and although the defense was overhauled this offseason, they’re still set to start three rookies against a Bengals offense that can punish mistakes fast. There’s no guarantee that group is going to be clean right away, which leaves Tampa Bay vulnerable to the kind of early-season growing pains that can swing a game.
That’s why Mayfield may need to carry a heavy load. If the Buccaneers are going to win, they may have to win with points, not defense.
Cincinnati’s defense was bottom-three last season, though the Bengals made significant additions in Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, and Bryan Cook. Even so, with several new starters in the mix, there’s a chance that unit won’t be fully settled yet, and Tampa Bay could take advantage of what was one of the league’s weakest defenses a year ago.
For Mayfield, the timing matters too. He’s in a contract year, and this season will go a long way toward shaping his next deal. Sunday gives him his first shot to start making that argument.
In Other News...
Bucs Fans Have A Rookie Worth Watching In This Award Race
The defensive rookie race is already taking shape around the league, and Kalshis latest odds have put Jets edge rusher David Bailey at the front of the pack. For Bucs fans, though, the real reason to keep an eye on it is the presence of Tampa Bay rookie safety Shilo Sanders, who enters the mix as part of a class trying to carve out a role before the games start counting. Defensive Rookie of the Year is usually dominated by pass rushers and splash-play makers, which makes the path for a safety more unusual from the start.
Preseason buzz can help build a case, but it does not guarantee a fast start once the regular season begins, and that uncertainty is part of what makes this race worth watching. Bailey has the offseason momentum and other names are sitting near the top of the board, but Sanders gives the Buccaneers a player whose progress could make the award conversation more interesting if he can translate camp and preseason attention into real production. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Have A Real Week 1 Linebacker Decision
Josiah Trotter has spent his first NFL summer doing exactly what the Buccaneers hoped a second-round pick would do: forcing his way into the conversation. The rookie inside linebacker has drawn praise from Todd Bowles and Jason Licht for the way he has shown up in practice, and his progress has made a previously routine position battle feel a lot more interesting heading into Week 1.
SirVocea Dennis is still in the mix, which keeps the door open and the competition real for Tampa Bay as it sorts out the middle of its defense. For a unit that wants dependable play and speed at linebacker, Trotters early push has turned this into one of the more notable decisions left on the board before the season begins. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Cap Picture Gets Tougher With Cody Mauch Up Next
The Buccaneers salary-cap picture keeps getting more complicated, and PewterReportTV is leaning into the conversation with a new video series built around it. Bucs Cap Convo brings in salary cap expert Josh Queipo to break down where Tampa Bay stands financially, with the latest episode focusing on guard Cody Mauch and the way his development is starting to shape the teams future decisions.
Mauchs next contract situation is part of a larger puzzle the Buccaneers have been working through, one that also includes names like Yaya Diaby, Vita Vea and Chris Godwin Jr. For a team trying to keep its core together while managing the books carefully, those talks matter, and Queipos analysis is aimed at showing how one looming decision can ripple through the rest of the roster-building process. [Read more 🡒]