ATLANTA, GEORGIA – DECEMBER 05: Vita Vea #50 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers applying pressure during the second quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 05, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)
A frustrating but revealing opener
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened the season with a 33‑27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, a game filled with momentum swings, costly mistakes and a handful of encouraging performances. Losing to a contender like Cincinnati is not a death sentence for the season, but it does leave plenty to dissect. Here are the key Week One takeaways, courtesy of Bucs Report.
Baker Mayfield’s turnovers proved decisive
Baker Mayfield’s stat line doesn’t tell the full story. While he threw the ball with accuracy and showed command at times, his turnovers were catastrophic. A fumble deep in Bucs territory turned into a Bengals defensive touchdown. Another fumble at the goal line erased a scoring opportunity. A third fumble set Cincinnati up with a short field. That’s a 14‑point swing and the defining difference in the game. Mayfield held the ball too long and was careless in critical moments. If blame must be assigned, it starts with the quarterback.
Defense played well enough to win
Despite the loss, the defense delivered a solid performance. Joe Burrow was held to just over 250 passing yards, and Chase Brown averaged only 3.5 yards per carry. The cornerbacks were outstanding. Zyon McCollum and Benjamin Morrison — who stepped in early after Jacob Parrish’s injury — combined to hold Ja’Marr Chase to just 12 yards. The star of the day was rookie linebacker Josiah Trotter, who led the team in tackles, sacks, tackles for loss and added a pick‑six. His debut was everything the Bucs hoped for.
Zac Robinson’s debut: some good, some not
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s first game was a mixed bag. The early script leaned too heavily on screens and behind‑the‑line throws, allowing Cincinnati to sit on short routes. Tampa Bay has weapons at every level and must use them more aggressively. The bright spot was the run game. Bucky Irving averaged 5.6 yards per carry and looked explosive. Robinson’s run concepts translated well, offering optimism moving forward.
Patience required with Rueben Bain
Rookie Rueben Bain was quiet in his debut, but context matters. Bengals right tackle Adarius Mims is one of the league’s best pass blockers, with elite length and mobility. Bain’s shorter arm length was always going to be tested in this matchup. This may be the toughest assignment he sees all season. The talent is real, and expectations should remain high.
Offensive line holds its own
Despite chatter online, the offensive line was not the primary issue. Miscommunications happened, but most pressure stemmed from Mayfield holding the ball too long. Overall, the line was serviceable and showed no major red flags.
Alex Anzalone’s rough start
New linebacker Alex Anzalone struggled, often out of position and on the ground. Still, his track record suggests improvement. One game shouldn’t define his season.
JT Olsen penned this story for Sports Talk Florida he is a columnist for Bucs Report