Way-too-early 2026 Bucs game preview: Cincinnati Bengals

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will not get much easing into the 2026 season. With the NFL officially unveiling the schedule, Tampa Bay opens the year on the road against Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals in what already looks like one of the toughest Week 1 matchups on the schedule.

Storyline to Watch: Baker Mayfield returns to Ohio

Before revitalizing himself in Tampa Bay, Mayfield was selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns in the 2018 NFL Draft and quickly became one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in football. Now, years later, he heads back to Ohio as the established leader of a Buccaneers team with playoff expectations after a total collapse to end the 2025 season. The Bengals remain one of the NFL’s premier offensive teams with Burrow throwing to star receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

Few teams stress defenses vertically and underneath the way Cincinnati does, meaning Todd Bowles’ secondary will immediately be thrown into the fire and need to extinguish the offensive flame.

Key matchups to Watch

Buccaneers Secondary vs. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins

Tampa Bay’s secondary struggled with consistency at times last season, and there may not be a tougher opening challenge than attempting to slow down Chase and Higgins. Chase is one of the league’s most explosive receivers after the catch, while Higgins’ size and catch radius make him a nightmare matchup near the boundary and in the red zone.

Tampa will need to do so after losing arguably their best corner last season in Jamel Dean, leaving Zyon McCollum both CB1 and the veteran in the cornerback room. McCollum will need to be much more disciplined than he was at times during the 2025 season, and one of Benjamin Morrison or Jacob Parrish will need to fill the hole Jamel Dean left on the outside.

Baker Mayfield vs. Bengals' Defensive Pressure

The Bengals can still generate pressure defensively, meaning Tampa Bay’s offensive line will need to hold up in a difficult road environment. If Mayfield gets time, the Buccaneers have enough speed offensively to challenge Cincinnati’s secondary. Dexter Lawrence's arrival means a 60-minute battle for Buccaneers left guard Ben Bredeson, who missed significant time last season and had moments where he struggled.

Keys to Winning

For Tampa Bay, limiting explosive plays will be critical. The Bengals thrive on chunk gains through the air, and defensive breakdowns against Burrow can quickly become points. Offensively, the Buccaneers must stay balanced and avoid obvious passing situations. If Tampa Bay can establish rhythm early with Bucky Irving and Kenneth Gainwell while allowing Mayfield to operate efficiently, the Buccaneers could turn the opener into a shootout.

Zac Robinson will need a gameplan that highlights putting playmakers into space a rush attack that dominates the line of scrimmage.

This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Early game preview for the Bucs against the Bengals in 2026