Former NFL Corner Wants To See “Aura” From Bucs Week 1
June 8th, 2026
Gunslinger.
Potentially, the Bucs’ regular-season opener in Cincinnati will be full of fireworks.
On paper, Joe is scared as hell of this game. Joe Burrow slinging the rock to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, defended by Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison keeps Joe awake at night.
But flip the coin. It’s not like the Bucs are lacking offensive weapons. Baker Mayfield is more than capable of lighting it up. And he still has serious weapons.
And, let’s be real, the Bengals defense last year was terrible.
Tampa Bay area native and veteran NFL cornerback Jahleel Addae was recently co-hosting “Good Morning Football” seen weekday mornings on NFL Network. Addae thinks the Bucs facing the Bengals to open the season is very much an underrated game.
“I want to see fireworks,” Addae said. “I want to see fireworks from both of these guys [Mayfield and Burrow].
“Both of these guys have aura. … Baker Mayfield is fiery. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. You never know what you are going to get from him.”
Addae, rightly, said the NFL is a quarterback league. And both Mayfield and Burrow are capabile of turning this game into a good ol’ fashioned wild west gunslinger shootout.
With the Bucs defense being the Bucs defense, it may take Mayfield going full-blown Dan Fouts to win.
"Both of these guys got aura" 🙌@Do_OrAddae37 is excited for the Week 1 fireworks between Baker Mayfield and Joe Burrow pic.twitter.com/SBcdM12ZYj
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) May 18, 2026
June 8th, 2026 at 12:27 am
Everyone is focused on Burrow, Chase, and Higgins, but don’t overlook what Bake brings to the table. The national media keeps talking about “aura” Baker has plenty of it (Pay the man!)
This offense may look different with rookie Hurst stepping into a bigger role, but Gus Swayze has always played his best when people doubt him. If the pass rush gets home and the young secondary holds up, WE can absolutely walk into Cincinnati and shock people.
LFG!!
June 8th, 2026 at 5:31 am
This game could come down to who has the most improved defense this year.
It’s been a question mark in my mind since the end of last season and you look at the totality of what worked for each team and what didn’t.
Defense was the Achilles heel for both teams.
Burrow, Chase and Higgins are a force to be reckoned with, but it’s not like we don’t have some serious offensive weapons, either.
In the end, the team with the most improved D will walk away with the W.
June 8th, 2026 at 6:29 am
Special Teams is the coin flip. Well, that and who can run the ball and .which defense can make a stop. Timing is usually not at peak the first game of the year, especially since syarts rarely play in preseason.
We love to say it’s a QB league, but who just got the SB MVP? that winning formula should be trending now that the league (aka “the greed”) has those tv contracts in pocket and the copy cats just saw a strong D and run game win a SB.
June 8th, 2026 at 7:32 am
The d-line is solid. The edge is unproven. The safeties are solid. The corners are unproven and bored. Time will tell. The offense seems to be strong. I hope the o-line make it out of the preseason healthy.
June 8th, 2026 at 8:15 am
Burrow with Chase and Higgins is indeed scary. But so can be Reuben Bain and AQM. The way to stop Burrow is to knock him down, early and often.
June 8th, 2026 at 10:55 am
Burrow will certainly have a career best, that’s for certain.
June 8th, 2026 at 11:09 am
There will be an aura. Of hot and fresh out of the cow manure on defense.
Bowles will serve up a heaping helping of hospitality to Joe Burrow.
And Baker will ensure the offense can’t keep up with the onslaught.
It’s going to be a blood bath!
June 8th, 2026 at 12:11 pm
Yes, unless the cb position changes or drastically improves the cb position is going to give up tons of plays. I agree Joe just thinking about Morrison and McColumn starting is a nightmare.
I expect this game to be a ton of points both ways. ST or who has the ball at the very last second probably determines the outcome.
50 to 47 sounds about right. Big passing plays at will and all over the field