\u201cYou felt their presence, all of them today,\u201d Taylor said after the Bengals won their opener for the second straight year. \u201cIt was fun to watch those guys get in the action and create all those turnovers.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a win where all three phases contributed, something that could rarely be said about the Bengals over the past couple of seasons.<\/p>\n
Cincinnati scored 24 points off Tampa Bay\u2019s mistakes. Three were committed by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who signed a $165 million three-year extension<\/a> earlier in the week.<\/p>\n Two fumbles came while he was sacked and another on a scramble when the Buccaneers were on the verge of scoring.<\/p>\n It is the first time Mayfield has lost an opener in his four seasons with Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n \u201cThey upgraded the personnel a lot. They were running on some twists and being consistent. Relentless effort, you know. Like the last one, it\u2019s (me) holding on to the ball too long, but those guys are running around the edge, so it\u2019s relentless effort bringing it,\u201d said Mayfield, who was 23 of 28 passing for 216 yards and also ran for a score.<\/p>\n Joe Burrow passed for 254 yards and a touchdown. After a three-and-out on the opening series, the seventh-year franchise quarterback led the Bengals to points on six of their next seven drives. The only hiccup was a pick-6<\/a> by Tampa Bay rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I didn\u2019t have that interception, I\u2019m feeling great walking out here. Can\u2019t make plays like that, so I got to get that fixed,\u201d said Burrow, who completed 25 of 35 passes.<\/p>\n And Evan McPherson had four field goals, including from 55 yards and 58 yards.<\/p>\n Edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook, both signed in free agency, had big games. Both had forced fumbles and recoveries, and Mafe also had one of Cincinnati\u2019s four sacks.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was the second gear that we had, but that was kind of like a statement. I do want to finish a little better as well, but to come out and win like that, it\u2019s a beautiful thing,\u201d Cook said.<\/p>\n Bucs\u2019 early fumbles play critical role<\/p>\n Tampa Bay scored on its first possession when Chase McLaughlin made a 34-yard field goal, but the Buccaneers turned it over on their next three possessions. Cincinnati converted all three fumbles into touchdowns.<\/p>\n Mayfield rolled right when Myles Murphy and Barrett Carter sacked him at the Buccaneers 26. Demetrius Knight picked up the loose ball at the 27 and ran up the sideline for his first NFL touchdown.<\/p>\n It was the Bengals\u2019 first scoop-and-score since Sam Hubbard\u2019s 99-yard touchdown in a 2022 wild-card round game against Baltimore. It also marked the third time that the defense has supplied Cincinnati\u2019s first touchdown of the season.<\/p>\n \u201cSomebody swiped my leg, so I\u2019m thinking, \u2018Please don\u2019t go down right here.\u2019 Like they say, a lesser athlete would have fallen, but it was an amazing opportunity,\u201d Knight said.<\/p>\n Burrow\u2019s 2-yard TD pass to tight end Mike Gesicki came seven plays after Mafe recovered Bucky Irving\u2019s fumble at the Bucs 33.<\/p>\n
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