Early cushion carries Cincinnati
The Cincinnati Bengals opened the 2026 season with a 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium, building enough separation before halftime to withstand a stronger second half from Tampa Bay. Cincinnati scored 14 points in the first quarter and added 10 in the second to take a 24-10 halftime lead. The Buccaneers cut that margin to 27-20 entering the fourth quarter, but their 17-9 scoring edge after halftime was not enough to erase the deficit. The Bengals start 1-0, while Tampa Bay falls to 0-1.
Gesicki and Brown lead the Bengals
Joe Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes for 254 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He added 20 rushing yards on five carries. Mike Gesicki supplied 78 receiving yards and a touchdown on five catches from seven targets. Chase Brown handled 16 carries for 56 yards and a rushing touchdown, along with five receptions for 22 yards on six targets. Cincinnati's defense recorded four sacks and four fumble recoveries. Evan McPherson contributed 19.0 fantasy points.
Irving produces in Tampa Bay's loss
Bucky Irving gave Tampa Bay production on the ground and through the air. He ran eight times for 45 yards and a touchdown and caught all seven of his targets for another 48 yards. His 20.3 PPR points led the listed individual performances from the game. Baker Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes for 216 yards and added 30 yards and a touchdown on five rushing attempts. Emeka Egbuka caught five of six targets for 63 yards, while Chris Godwin Jr. caught all four of his targets for 40 yards and added three rushing yards. For fantasy managers, receiving work boosted both starting running backs. Irving's seven catches supported his strong PPR finish, while Brown's five receptions helped him reach 18.8 points. Gesicki also finished with 18.8 PPR points, pairing his touchdown with Cincinnati's leading receiving total among the listed players.
Week 2 schedule
Tampa Bay hosts the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, while Cincinnati travels to face the Houston Texans. Both games are scheduled for September 20 at 1 p.m. ET.