Last week against the Cincinnati Bengals, Rueben Bain Jr. didn't have the debut most people were expecting.

After months of impressing everyone during the offseason, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' star rookie was invisible in the team's Week 1 33-27 defeat.

Many were expecting Bain, who had been Tampa's most-hyped rookie in ages, to immediately make an impact, especially against a suspect Cincinnati offensive line that has struggled to protect quarterback Joe Burrow for years.

Instead, the early favorite to win Defensive Rookie of the Year, who has already earned comparisons to NFL legend James Harrison, was only able to register a single tackle against the Bengals. No QB hits. No pressures. 

No impact.

Though it was only one game, that's all it took for Bain's critics to crawl out of their hiding spots and trash the rookie. 

The critics went right back to the concerns about Bain's arms being too short for an edge rusher. Though Bain had, for months, been dominating in practice against Tampa's terrific offensive line, a disappointing debut has created a new wave of doubt about the rookie's potential.

This week, the Bucs take on the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium, looking to get their first win on the board. While it may not technically be a must-win game, a loss at home as 8.5-point favorites against the lowly Browns could be devastating for Tampa.

Will Bain be able to rebound against the Browns, who gave up five sacks in their season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars? 

Let's look at the matchup.

Bain will be going up against one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL on Sunday. After Week 1, PFF has Cleveland's line ranked only 30th out of the 32 teams.

The line is starting two rookies. First-round pick Spencer Fano is the left tackle. Austin Barber, taken in the third round, is the starting right guard.

Barber actually had an impressive game against Jacksonville and was the unit's highest-graded player.

Bain will probably get a lot of work going against Fano, and that will be a very intriguing matchup. Fano was taken with the ninth overall pick. Cleveland was one of the teams that passed on Bain in the draft, and the former Miami edge rusher will want to make the Browns look foolish for it.

Fano has a bright future ahead of him, and watching the two rookies go up against each other will be fascinating.

After Cleveland's line showed plenty of vulnerabilities against the Jaguars last week, I expect Bain to get the best of Fano, right tackle Tytus Howard, and whoever else he goes against Sunday.

Browns QB Deshaun Watson led the team with 38 rushing yards against Jacksonville. While he isn't the running threat he was earlier in his career, Watson still has some escapability left in the tank. If Bain does beat his man, he must make sure he brings Watson to the ground.

Bain has a great matchup this week to bounce back from last week's disappointing showing.

Of course, the Bengals also looked like a terrific matchup for Bain, and they neutralized the rookie with ease.

I don't see that happening two games in a row. I think Bain gets the better of his fellow rookie and tallies his first career sack in a big Bucs victory.

Projected stat line: 3 total tackles, 1 sack, 3 hurries, 2 QB hits