Cincinnati Bengals Make Statement With 33-27 Win Behind Rebuilt Defense

The Cincinnati Bengals topped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27 in Week 1, getting huge defensive plays from their rebuilt unit to help clinch the victory. Cincinnati scored three touchdowns off those turnovers, playing a rather clean game offensively outside of Joe Burrow’s pick-six, which he threw to Josiah Trotter.

Outside of the turnover, Burrow had an efficient day, completing 25-of-35 passes for 254 yards and a score. He completed a touchdown pass to tight end Mike Gesicki in the first half. Chase Brown averaged 3.5 yards per carry on 16 attempts, scoring early.

The Bengals' elite receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins didn’t have the most impressive day, combining for just five catches and 71 yards. Gesicki had the most yards in a game since a Dec. 7 loss to the Buffalo Bills in 2025, when he had six catches for 86 yards and a score.

The Bengals' defense was the story of the day. Newcomer Bryan Cook had six tackles, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble on a Baker Mayfield scramble in the red zone. The play of the day was Demetrius Knight Jr.’s touchdown on a scoop-and-score after Myles Murphy strip-sacked Mayfield in the first quarter. It was a very loud introduction to this new defensive unit, despite two holdovers combining to make the play.

The Bengals kept the Tampa Bay offense in check, limiting Mayfield to just 216 yards. He didn’t score through the air and was sacked four times, with Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and Kris Jenkins Jr. each grabbing one, and Myles Murphy and Swayze Bozeman posting a half sack each. Cashius Howell also had half a sack. 

Coming into the game, the 31 other NFL teams that scored 33+ points were 159-13-2 since the start of the 2024 season, while the Bengals were just 6-7, as the story has been a lack of complementary football, with the high-powered offense lacking a back end.

This was about as good a result as the Bengals could get. The offense didn’t have a crazy productive game, and their offensive stars didn’t explode carrying the unit. The defense stepped up and made enough plays to win a one-possession game against a likely playoff team in the Buccaneers.

Cincinnati faces a tough Week 2 game as they travel to the Houston Texans, who have one of the league's best and most dangerous defensive units. Nevertheless, if the Bengals copy and paste that effort week in and week out, they will have the chance to win a lot of games.