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The Cincinnati Bengals won Week 1 on the scoreboard and in the turnover battle, but Joe Burrow’s costly error nearly became a continuation of a theme from last season. The Bengals made sure to respond differently this time.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) yells out instructions to his teammates during home opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium on September 13, 2026. The Bengals beat the Buccaneers 27-33.
Cara Owsley/ The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Cincinnati Bengals’ first points of the 2026 season came from a fumble recovery for a touchdown. Cincinnati forced four turnovers and scored 20 points off of them in its 33-27 Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bengals’ one turnover of the game, however, nearly flipped the day on its head.
The Bengals held a 27-13 lead late in the third quarter with complete control of the game. Joe Burrow had been playing clean, efficient football leading up to a completely uncharacteristic miscue. Burrow missed a defender, rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter, dropping right into the passing window in front of wide receiver Andrei Iosivas. Trotter showed blitz at the snap and then dropped back to intercept Burrow’s pass, taking it all the way for six points.
All of a sudden, with a full quarter left to play, the Bucs were only down seven points. What followed helped save Cincinnati from a disaster far too familiar.
A familiar feeling from last year
Trotter was responsible for Burrow’s ninth pick-six of his career. Interceptions returned for touchdowns aren’t always game-altering plays, but for last year’s Bengals, they definitely were.
Three of Burrow’s previous eight pick-sixes came during the 2025 season. Cincinnati lost all three games in which they occurred, all after Burrow returned from his turf toe injury in the final month weeks of the season.
Sunday could’ve seen the streak extended. Tampa Bay, after reeling from several turnovers of its own, finally had momentum with plenty of time on the clock. It was a mistake Burrow knew couldn’t be justified.
“Terrible, terrible for me,” Burrow said of the play after the game. “I had an out route to the field, the flat defender got underneath it, so I’m trying to throw the replacement and the guy made a good play. I can’t make that throw.”
Turnovers, particularly those returned for scores, killed the 2025 Bengals as whether or not Burrow could bounce back from them, their defense wasn’t able to pick up the slack.
Burrow has earned the belief he can hold up his end of the bargain. The defense needed to show it could buckle up when needed.
This time, both sides came through.
One more stop was granted
Burrow got the Bengals in scoring position the very next drive thanks to a 24-yard reception for Mike Gesicki, who led the team in receiving for the day with five receptions for 78 yards and a TD. A 58-yard Evan McPherson field goal increased the lead back to 10, but the door was still wide open for the Bucs.
Tampa Bay had scored on its last two full possessions. It had been two full quarters since Baker Mayfield’s last fumble. The offense had been finding answers against Cincy’s defense.
Last year, the script may’ve already been written. The ink is no longer dry.
Boye Mafe worked around All-Pro left tackle Tristan Wirfs and thanks to great coverage downfield, came from behind Mayfield for the first sack of his Bengals career. He went for the ball and found what he was looking for, stripping Mayfield for his third fumble lost of the day.
“It’s one of those mentality things. I knew what the situation was,” Mafe said of the strip sack. “So at that moment I sold out once I saw him pat the ball and our defense, I had to take my shot and jump for that.”
Cincinnati regained possession and eventually made it a two-score game. It needed the lead as Mayfield would work quickly on the next drive to make it a six-point deficit with 3:19 to play.
The Bengals’ defense has done enough. The game can be won on offense if Burrow can officially rectify his critical error. It took an equally impactful play to make happen.
Redemption for Burrow, victory for everyone
On a day in which his average depth of target was just 6.6 yards, Burrow pushed the ball down the field one last time with the game on the line. Cincinnati needed one more first down to close off the game with just over two minutes remaining. The Bucs could stop the clock by preventing a first down and get the ball back with time remaining.
Burrow dialed up Tee Higgins’ number for the play of the day. Higgins wasn’t exactly open with Zyon McCullom trailing right behind his hip, but Burrow had the trust in his 2020 NFL Draftmate and placed a dime where only he could catch it.
And incredible catch by Higgins was made. First down. Ball game.
“Yeah, just give him a chance, you know, put it in a place that only he can get it and let your guys go make plays,” Burrow said of the catch. “They were worried about Ja’Marr [Chase’. They basically doubled in there. Safety came out of the post and cut his crosser. And so that’s an alert for Tee. He made a big play.”
Pick-sixes and turnovers in general were the Bengals’ Achilles heel last season. Their one miscue Sunday nearly nullified four gifts this revamped defense gave them.
It would’ve been deja vu, and a potentially distressing sign for the rest of the year. This team still can’t close games, can’t overcome mistakes, and can’t capitalize on the opposition’s. The headlines just needed to be defrosted from last year.
No need. Burrow recouped when the time came, and his mistake wasn’t compounded from a helpless defense.
Cincinnati may need to win plenty more games exactly like this. The new blueprint is fresh, and ready to be followed.
Cincinnati Bengals News
This game felt like it was six months in the making for the Cincinnati Bengals. A 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was fueled by the newest members of the roster.