CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27 on Sunday, propelled by a dominant defensive performance that forced four turnovers and accounted for 24 points.
Linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. scored a touchdown after recovering a fumble, marking the Bengals' first fumble recovery for a touchdown since 2022. Quarterback Joe Burrow contributed with 254 passing yards and a touchdown, while kicker Evan McPherson added three field goals, including successful attempts from 55 and 58 yards. The victory secures the Bengals' second consecutive season-opening win.
The Bengals’ new-look defense, which included free agency signings Boye Mafe and Bryan Cook, made an immediate impact. Both Mafe and Cook recorded forced fumbles and recoveries, with Mafe also contributing one of Cincinnati’s four sacks in the game. Much of the defensive success came at the expense of Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield, who was responsible for three of Tampa Bay's turnovers. Mayfield, who signed a $165 million, three-year extension earlier in the week, completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards.
The Buccaneers initially took the lead with a 34-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin on their first possession. However, Tampa Bay then turned the ball over on its next three possessions, all of which Cincinnati converted into touchdowns. Demetrius Knight Jr.'s touchdown came after Mayfield was sacked by Myles Murphy and Barrett Carter at the Buccaneers 26-yard line. Knight picked up the loose ball at the 27 and ran it up the sideline for his first NFL touchdown. This play also marked the third time that Cincinnati’s first touchdown of the season has been supplied by the defense, and the team's first scoop and score since a 2022 wild-card round game.
Cincinnati further capitalized on Tampa Bay’s mistakes. Safety Bryan Cook recovered another Mayfield fumble in the end zone after linebacker Carter stripped the ball from Mayfield’s hands at the Bengals 4-yard line as Mayfield attempted to stretch for extra yards. This recovery set up Chase Brown’s 5-yard run, extending the Bengals’ lead to 21-3 midway through the second quarter. Later, Boye Mafe recovered a fumble from Bucky Irving at the Buccaneers 33, leading seven plays later to Burrow’s 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Mike Gesicki.
On the offensive side, Joe Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes. After an opening three-and-out, the seventh-year franchise quarterback directed the Bengals to points on six of their subsequent seven drives. The only hiccup for the Bengals’ offense was a pick-six by Tampa Bay rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, who intercepted a pass intended for Andrei Iosivas and ran it back 38 yards for a touchdown.
Trotter's interception and a previous sack of Burrow for a 9-yard loss both occurred in the third quarter, bringing the Buccaneers within 27-20 with 2:16 remaining in the period. Trotter became the first player with a sack and pick-six in his first NFL game since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.
Mayfield’s two fumbles came while he was sacked, with another occurring on a scramble when the Buccaneers were on the verge of scoring. Despite a late 9-yard scramble touchdown by Mayfield that pulled the Buccaneers within six points with 3:19 left, Cincinnati managed to run out the clock. A key 18-yard completion from Burrow to Tee Higgins to the Buccaneers 26-yard line on second-and-10 secured the victory. This loss marks the first time Mayfield has lost an opener in his four seasons with Tampa Bay.
In injury news, Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish tweaked his back during the second quarter and did not return to the game.
