CINCINNATI (AP/WKRC) — The Bengals’ rebuilt defense forced four turnovers, scored its first fumble-return touchdown since 2022 and helped Cincinnati beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33-27 on Sunday.

Demetrius Knight Jr. returned a fumble 27 yards for his first NFL touchdown, and the Bengals turned Tampa Bay’s four turnovers into 24 points.

“Those four turnovers are a gut punch to an offense when you’re out there,” Bengals coach Zac Taylor said. “I saw some big-time tackles by our guys, just getting the ball off.”

Joe Burrow said he was not surprised by the defense’s performance.

“That D-line pressured the quarterback, made great plays,” he said. “We got the right guys that are gonna learn from their mistakes and keep getting better.”

Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes for 254 yards and a touchdown. Evan McPherson made all four of his field-goal attempts, including kicks from 55 and 58 yards, as Cincinnati won its season opener for the second straight year.

“You know, he keeps getting better and better and better,” Burrow said of McPherson. “I’m so happy for him to have the day that he did today. He’s such a weapon for us.”

Tampa Bay took an early 3-0 lead on Chase McLaughlin’s 34-yard field goal, but the Bengals capitalized on the Buccaneers’ next three possessions.

Myles Murphy and Barrett Carter combined to sack Baker Mayfield at the Tampa Bay 26-yard line, forcing a fumble that Knight picked up and returned for a touchdown. It was Cincinnati’s first scoop-and-score since Sam Hubbard’s 99-yard touchdown in the 2022 AFC wild-card win over Baltimore.

“To get up 14-3, I think, is big,” Taylor said. “We needed something to kickstart us, and that was a big play right there that kickstarted us.”

Boye Mafe recovered Bucky Irving’s fumble at the Tampa Bay 33, setting up Burrow’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Mike Gesicki.

Cook later recovered Mayfield’s fumble in the end zone after Carter stripped the quarterback near the goal line.

Chase Brown scored on a 5-yard run to give Cincinnati a 21-3 lead midway through the second quarter. McPherson’s 20-yard field goal made it 24-10 at halftime.

Taylor praised Cincinnati’s new defensive additions, including Mafe and Cook, for creating energy early in the game.

“I think they all — you felt their presence, all of them today,” Taylor said. “It’s just really fun to watch those guys get in the action and create all those turnovers.”

Tampa Bay cut the lead to 27-20 late in the third quarter when linebacker Josiah Trotter returned Burrow’s interception 38 yards for a touchdown.

Burrow took responsibility for the interception.

“If I didn’t have that interception, I’m feeling great walking out of here,” he said. “Can’t make plays like that, so I’ve got to get that fixed.”

McPherson answered with his 58-yard field goal early in the fourth.

Mayfield’s 9-yard touchdown run pulled the Buccaneers within six with 3:19 remaining, but Burrow completed an 18-yard pass to Tee Higgins on second-and-10 to the Tampa Bay 26-yard line as Cincinnati ran out the clock.

Burrow said Tampa Bay’s attention on Ja’Marr Chase created the opportunity for Higgins.

“They basically doubled him there,” Burrow said. “That’s an alert for Tee, and Tee made a big play.”

Taylor said the Bengals had emphasized the late-game situation throughout training camp. Burrow said Cincinnati recognized that Tampa Bay was playing man coverage and selling out to stop the run.

“We know the situation, too, and we’ve got to go and make plays against man coverage,” Burrow said. “That’s what we did. Tee, Samaje (Perine), Dohnte (Meyers), big-time plays. Chase (Brown) being smart, staying in bounds on a good run. That’s how you win football games.”

“Our guys situationally did some things we worked on for a long time, managed them really well, finished with the quarterback sneak, finished with the kneel,” Taylor said.

Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards and lost three fumbles. The loss was his first in a season opener during his four seasons with Tampa Bay.

“You know, it’s not perfect. Week 1 rarely is,” Taylor said. “There’s a lot of things you got to correct, but I just, I loved our guys’, um, will to win today.”