The Bucs opened the season with a 56-yard field-goal drive. They then had three consecutive possessions ended on lost fumbles.
Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield fumbled twice â one that Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. returned 27 yards for a touchdown and another into the end zone that safety Bryan Cook recovered â and Bucky Irving had the ball punched out by Cook and recovered by defensive lineman Boye Mafe.
The Bucs finally scored a touchdown on a 10-yard Irving run with 1:49 remaining until halftime but trail 24-10 after all their miscues.
Besides KnightâÂÂs touchdown, the Bengalsâ other scores came on Mike GesickiâÂÂs 2-yard reception from Joe Burrow and Chase BrownâÂÂs 5-yard run. They ended the half with a 10-play, 56-yard drive that ended on the 2-yard line and with an Evan McPherson chip-shot field goal.
Burrow is 14-of-20 for 133 yards and a touchdown and has added 20 yards on three carries. Brown has seven carries for 27 yards and a touchdown. Gesicki has four catches for 54 yards and a touchdown.
The Bengals have outgained the Bucs 183 to 167, with Cincinnati scoring on its final three possessions of the half after a three-and-out to start.
The Bengals, who revamped their defense in the offseason after ranking last in 2025, have two sacks and three takeaways as Cook and Barrett Carter have led the way.
Mayfield is 14-of-17 for 132 yards, with Emeka Egbuka catching five for 63. Irving, who scored his 10th career rushing touchdown, has five carries for 31 yards.