Bucs At Bengals, 11th-Best Week 1 Game
May 23rd, 2026
Turn Baker Mayfield loose Week 1.
This has the feel of the Bucs-Seahawks game last year.
Joe had doubts about the Bucs going into the Pacific Northwest in October. Not that Joe thought the Seahawks were the 1984 49ers, but Seattle is one of the toughest places to play in the league and a team traveling from Florida across three time zones to Seattle is a steep obstacle to climb.
But what did we get? One of the best shootouts in the NFL last year and the most thrilling Bucs win. It was a nailbiter!
Joe can see Week 1 being like that. The Bengals defense isn’t anything to brag about but on offense, the Bengals may have three Hall of Famers: Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Those guys can light it up.
And Joe believes the Bucs offense will be much better — kindly allow Joe to have a couple of beers before thinking about the Bucs defense.
Carter Bahns, typing for CBS, thinks of all the Week 1 games, Bucs at Bengals is the No. 11 game (out of 16).
11. Buccaneers at Bengals
Date: Sunday, Sept. 13
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Location: Paycor Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)
TV: FoxIf you’re looking for a Week 1 shootout, this is your game. Joe Burrow vs. Baker Mayfield is a quarterback showdown ripe for 300 yards and three touchdowns apiece. For the Cincinnati Bengals’ sake, though, they had better hope Mayfield does not torch them to that extent. In order to return to the postseason for just the third time in the Burrow era, the defense has to be more stout. A battle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ prolific attack should offer an early sign as to whether the additions of Dexter Lawrence, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook are impactful enough to turn things around.
Yeah, this game has all the makings of a barnburner.
Both teams have proven quarterbacks. Burrow is top-shelf and Mayfield has shown he can sling the ball if allowed. Both teams has very good receivers and underrated running backs.
If the Bucs expect Benjamin Morrison and Zyon McCollum to shut (slow?) down Chase and Higgins, then KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles better let Zac Robinson air it out.
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:09 am
That’s not only the best game, it’s the only game!!
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:09 am
I think its going to be a good close game but we lose it….then win the next two learning from mistakes.
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:28 am
We’re gonna kick the heck out of the lowly Bungles. Also, Tee Higgins is nowhere near a hall-of-fame trajectory. Chase certainly could get there but has a long way to go. I want to see the Bucs pass rush get home in this game at least a couple times.
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:45 am
Burrow and those WRs are gonna carve this defense up. The Bucs offense had trouble scoring for the majority of the season and that won’t change. If the Bucs don’t turn it over and get pressure then they’ll have a better chance win. But thats a big if…
May 23rd, 2026 at 9:57 am
Idk, madman
I wouldn’t be so sure if it’s between our offense and theirs. Our Offense (with a healthy o line) ARE NO SLOUCHES! I know that not what your saying but I Would put us On Top of their offense. We HAVE a Lot of wicked weapons that WILL come to fruition right off the jump…. They aren’t new to one another and they Know How to get it done. Take away a COMPLETE JOKE OF A ROOKIE OC and YOU BETTER WATCH OUT!
My prediction (without unforseen drama) is that Once Again we dominate offensively. At least in the freshness of a new season. Robinson will likely hold his part to the task.
Now, as far as the defense. I predict that they Will Also come out strong. How long THAT HOLDS is OBVIOUSLY debatable to start the year. However, the majority of the team BY FAR is all the men that turned their backs on a particular someone last year.
Obviously I don’t believe the head coach Has Ever had what it takes and now, nor does the majority of the guys playing under him. However, Bowles problems are far bigger than just trying to win the team back over. I don’t believe zebras change stripes and Bowles affinity for round holes and square pegs Doesn’t Change. Therefore,…..
May 23rd, 2026 at 10:42 am
They beat burrow ,then come in flat against Clevelands defense
May 23rd, 2026 at 11:25 am
Sadly, what Steve V just said above is probably true.
Tee Higgins HoF?! Haha I doubt it. Imagine lamenting Evans hamstring pulls and pumping up oft injured Tee Higgins.
Good player no doubt and our secondary and D will absolutely be challenged.
Hopefully it takes some time for their D to gel after a lot of additions. I like our chances due to hot starts under Todd.
May 23rd, 2026 at 11:57 am
Assuming the oft injured Joe Burrow isn’t injured, this should be a gunslinger’s fans dream game.
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:14 pm
Yes, TonyD, let’s see if both quarterbacks are healthy enough to play. On the other hand, if the backups start, maybe the defenses will look good. 😉
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:45 pm
Chase is dominating anyone HE wants to. Doesn’t matter WHO it is, either. He’s a ‘first-ballot’ LOCK 💯, and is one of THE most explosive and talented WR’s to ever play the game. He is DOM-I-NANT. A total FREAK. Just sooo strong. Unless, they win a Super Bowl or two, AND Burrow can remain ‘healthy’ from this point on, Higgins is not making the Hall. The Bengals should’ve never paid that kind of money for a #2-WR. He gets a little beat up now! They got themselves locked up into ANOTHER contract dispute and hold-out with him just like with Trey Hendrickson. Also, just like with Trey Hendrickson, they SHOULD’VE traded him when his value was at it’s peak, and when they had the chance. They could’ve gotten a 1st-Round Pick that year, and then used it to DRAFT his replacement on THE CHEAP. A total no-brainer. THEN, they would’ve been in a position to have offered Trey a ‘fair’ deal. But, they end up jacking around with BOTH (and did with their #1-Pick Stewart), and looking STUPID (like the “Bengals”). What a complete total DISASTER. You seriously, could not have screwed it up any worse. It just DESTROYS team chemistry and the locker room. What an EMBARRASSMENT.
May 23rd, 2026 at 12:49 pm
Games ranked number 5, 6 & 8 are ranked way too high.
If I wasn’t a Bucs or Bengals fan, I’d still rather watch Burrow and Baker over those other three games. Our game will be more fun to watch for sure.
May 23rd, 2026 at 1:14 pm
Double Chase, take your chances with Higgins. The new additions on the Bengals defense don’t scare anyone. Jonathan Allen is past his prime, Boye Mafe was a back-up with Seattle, the defensive player who is a threat is Dexter Lawrence.
May 23rd, 2026 at 1:34 pm
75-80 points def possible.
It will indeed be fun and a fantasy dream.
May 23rd, 2026 at 2:23 pm
Do yourself a favor and bet huge against Bowles defense.
Joe Burrow is a winner, he’ll always be a winner, and Todd will ALWAYS be a loser.
This is like shooting fish in a barrel. Easy money!!!!
Bucs defense are the fish, Bowles Kit Kat filled stomach is the barrel.
Cincy 56 Yucs 18. The beginning of the end for Toad Bowels.
May 23rd, 2026 at 2:24 pm
Reasons for concern =
New OC trying to fix last year’s offense…. Let’s be clear, our offense only played a couple of good games all of last year. My biggest concern.
Our D will have a lot of new faces including rookies.
Cincinnatis offense is well established and consistently potent as long as Burrow is playing.
Bengals defense could be much improved.
May 23rd, 2026 at 3:59 pm
Yes I have been saying it repeatedly. The 2 starting corners from last year are down right pitiful. Expecting them to suddenly turn things around, well maybe , maybe Morrison , but huge gamble. As I mentioned their is no depth either. In short the Bucs secondary will makes a QB like Burrow and his receivers salivate. A shoot out very likely it appears. If we go with the current lineup 48, plus points Cinn and 45 Bucs. Burrow drives down the field torching the secondary on consecutive passes down the field in front of Morrison and McColumn. I was hoping we would pick up a vet at CB , but Ronde says now not likely. We must hope Parrish continues to evolve and Morrison suddenly gets healthy and turns into a top notch CB. Does that sound like a fantasy. Today it sure does