The NFL season is here and the Cincinnati Bengals are beginning their 2026 season at home against an NFC team with a former divisional foe at quarterback.
Coach Zac Taylor and the Bengals will match up against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers with momentum on the line to start the year. The Bengals, who began 2025 2-0, seek to win their season opener at home for the first time since their run to the Super Bowl during the 2021 campaign.
Postgame — Bengals 33, Buccaneers 27
The Bengals held on and won 33-27 over Tampa Bay.
Box score via Cincinnati Bengals: https://www.bengals.com/game-day/2026/regular-season/week-1-buccaneers/box-score
Game photos via Cincinnati Bengals: https://www.bengals.com/photos/bengals-buccaneers-game-photos-week-1-2026#55c540e7-d3ff-457d-ab5a-576a9f856886
Here are the game leaders:
- Passing: Joe Burrow (254 yards).
- Rushing: Chase Brown (56 yards).
- Tackles: Josiah Trotter (11 tackles, four solo).
Bengals historic defensive performance
According to Bengals Communications, the team “recorded fumble recoveries on three straight opponent possessions for the first time since Week 1 of the 2007 season, when they did so in the first quarter in a win over Baltimore.”
The turnovers allowed Cincinnati to go down and score 21 points, a critical swing after a three-and-out began the day for the Bengals offense.
McPherson from 50
Kicker Evan McPherson drilled 55- and 58-yard field goals against the Buccaneers.
McPherson now has the most field goals from 50 yards or more in Bengals history with 31, according to Bengals Communications. It was his fifth-career game with two or more 50-yard field goals.
Attendance numbers
According to Bengals Communications, “The announced attendance figure for Sunday’s game was 66,625, marking the fourth-largest announced crowd for a home game in Bengals history.”
Live — First Half
The game’s first drive saw the Buccaneers kick a 34-yard field goal after an 11-play, 56-yard march. Then the Bengals offense went three and out.
It didn’t appear favorable for Cincinnati after the first two drives. This is a tough first matchup to begin a season, with two Heisman Trophy winners at quarterback and plenty of players looking to “prove it” in the opener.
But here’s a look at how the Bengals gained control of the momentum: a defensive touchdown.
Each of Tampa Bay’s next three drives after the opening field goal resulted in a Bengals fumble recovery. Bryan Cook, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Boye Mafe recovered them.
Live — Second Half
2:16 3Q: Burrow threw his first interception of the season, and it was taken back by Trotter as part of a 38-yard pick-six.
The game changes from here.
The Bengals are ahead by seven points, and Burrow and the Cincinnati offense will get back onto the field. It feels like big moments ahead for Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. They’ll be major factors if the Bengals hold onto the game.
So far:
Chase: 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards, four targets.
Higgins: 2 receptions, 41 yards, three targets.
14:04 4Q: McPherson drilled his second 50-plus yard field goal of the game, this time a 58-yarder to put Cincinnati ahead by 10 points 30-20 early in the final quarter.
Now seems like the time for another defensive play, whether that be a three-and-out or another turnover. The Bengals have already forced three Tampa Bay turnovers in the game, all fumbles.
Pregame
Tampa Bay Buccaneers game release: https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/buccaneers/v0twvebc898rb8chz6tg
Cincinnati Bengals weekly release: https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/bengals/tfz88nhbj10bczzgrbck
Flip card: https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/bengals/rowb0ndnnduzhpvlsmzg
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