The Bengals got the result they wanted in Week 1, beating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27, and the new-look defense had plenty to do with it.
Four forced fumbles, four recoveries, and one defensive touchdown would usually be the headline. For Cincinnati, though, that may not have been the most telling part of the afternoon. The real sign of progress came in how the defense squeezed Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense.
As ESPN’s Ben Solak put it: "The Bengals put a blanket on top of the Buccaneers," Solak writes. "Mayfield threw 50% of his passes behind the line of scrimmage -- a number that was well higher before garbage time. It's only the 13th game with at least half of the pass attempts behind the line over the past three seasons, and five of the 13 were backup quarterbacks."
That’s the kind of number that tells the story of a defense winning with more than just takeaway luck. Cincinnati’s front made life difficult, and the coverage behind it helped shut down anything downfield. The Buccaneers were pushed into a game plan that leaned heavily on short throws, whether because of their own offense or because the Bengals made the airspace disappear.
DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, and Bryan Cook stood out in the back seven, while Dexter Lawrence II, Boye Mafe, and Cashius Howell were among the players helping set the tone up front.
So yes, the turnovers mattered. The touchdown mattered. But the most encouraging thing from Week 1 was the way the Bengals forced Tampa Bay into a corner as a passing offense.
There’s still a long way to go, and Week 2 could look completely different. Even so, after major offseason changes, Cincinnati’s defense opened with a performance that gave the Bengals plenty to build on.
In Other News...
Buccaneers May Have Found The Better Answer At Offensive Coordinator
Mike McDaniel was the name most closely linked to the Buccaneers offensive coordinator opening before he opted to join the Chargers, and that decision now looks a little different after one week of football. Tampa Bays offense under Zac Robinson showed real efficiency both through the air and on the ground, even with turnovers getting in the way, giving the Bucs reason to feel encouraged about the direction of the unit early on.
Meanwhile, the Chargers offense with McDaniel had a rougher opening against the Arizona Cardinals, which only sharpens the contrast between the two situations. It is far too early to draw any hard conclusions from one Sunday, but Tampa Bays first look under Robinson made the case that the better fit may already be in place, even if the offseason chase ended another way. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers' Cade Otton Decision Already Looks Tougher To Defend
Cade Ottons new contract was supposed to settle one of the quieter questions surrounding the Buccaneers offense, but his Week 1 showing made the discussion linger a little longer. After signing a three-year, $30 million extension, Otton finished Tampa Bays loss with three catches for 30 yards and had a notable drop, a start that did little to quiet scrutiny around how the Bucs are valuing him at tight end.
The comparison only gets sharper when Isaiah Likelys debut is in the mix. Likely, who signed a three-year, $40 million deal with the Giants, opened with eight receptions for 78 yards and two touchdowns, and Pro Football Focus also gave him a better run-blocking grade than Otton in 2025. For Tampa Bay, the issue is not just whether Otton can bounce back, but whether the extension already looks harder to justify than it did when it was signed. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Sent An Encouraging Message About Bucs Rookie WR
Ted Hursts first NFL game gave the Buccaneers something to look at beyond the final score. The rookie wide receiver was on the field for about 75% of the offensive snaps in the season opener against the Bengals, and he made the most of the opportunity with three catches for 36 yards. Todd Bowles came away pleased with what he saw, pointing to Hursts ability to create separation, work open when targeted and compete for contested throws.
There is still development ahead, as Bowles made clear, but the early usage suggests the Bucs are willing to trust Hurst quickly. For a young receiver trying to carve out a role, the combination of playing time and a solid debut matters, especially on a team that will keep looking for reliable options to complement its passing game. The question now is how much more the rookie can add as the season moves along. [Read more 🡒]