Bengals defeat Buccaneers 33-27 in season opener

Cincinnati beat Tampa Bay 33-27 at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, giving the Bengals a 1-0 start to the 2026 season. The defense forced four fumbles, recovered all of them and recorded four sacks, turning the turnovers into 24 points. Tight end Mike Gesicki led the receiving corps with five catches for 78 yards and a touchdown, while the running game added balance with 27 rushes and a 56-yard, one-touchdown effort from Chase Brown. Kicker Evan McPherson contributed four field goals, including a 58-yard attempt, accounting for 12 of the team's points. Quarterback Joe Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception that was returned for a touchdown by Tampa Bay. The Bengals' offensive line limited Burrow to a single sack. Tampa Bay rallied late, narrowing the margin to six points after a pick-six by Burrow, but Cincinnati sealed the win with a final drive that ran out the clock.

"We were able to capitalize on the turnovers and stay aggressive on defense," a Bengals spokesperson said. "We need to tighten up in the red zone and cut down on penalties moving forward," added the team's offensive coordinator. The Buccaneers kept the game close, scoring a late touchdown with just over three minutes remaining, but were unable to recover the ball again before time expired.