CINCINNATI — It is time.

After an offseason spent rebuilding one of the NFL’s worst defenses, the Cincinnati Bengals will finally unveil their new-look roster Sunday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium.

Naturally, Baker Mayfield will be waiting for them.

Mayfield has tormented Cincinnati throughout his career, posting a 6-1 record and a 113.8 passer rating in seven games against the Bengals. He is also 3-0 when starting opposite Joe Burrow, giving Cincinnati’s franchise quarterback another irritating piece of history to erase.

Both quarterbacks followed remarkably similar paths to the NFL. Mayfield and Burrow won the Heisman Trophy before being selected with the No. 1 overall pick in their respective drafts. Their careers have gone in different directions since then, but Mayfield has consistently played some of his best football against Cincinnati.

Burrow is 1-2 in his last three openers with one touchdown pass and a 73.3 rating.

Of course, Cincinnati’s larger concern is keeping Burrow on the field. The Bengals went 5-3 with him as their starter last season and 1-8 without him after a turf toe injury cost him nine games. Cincinnati’s Super Bowl aspirations are, and shall remain, completely attached to Burrow’s health.

But can the defense stop anyone?

Cincinnati allowed a franchise-record 28.9 points per game last season while surrendering 380.9 total yards and an NFL-worst 147.1 rushing yards per game. Opponents rushed for at least 100 yards in 15 of the Bengals’ 17 games.

Those numbers were hideous, but this isn’t the same defense. On paper, Cincinnati is bigger, deeper and considerably more talented on that side of the ball. Sunday will provide the first evidence of whether those improvements are real.

Players to Watch

• Joe Burrow — Everything begins and ends with Burrow. Cincinnati went 5-3 when he started last season and collapsed without him. If the offensive line keeps Burrow upright, the Bengals should have opportunities against a Tampa Bay defense that underwent its own offseason reconstruction.
• Dexter Lawrence II — Cincinnati didn’t surrender the No. 10 overall draft pick for Lawrence to be merely good. He was brought here to transform the defensive front. Lawrence was double-teamed on 55.8 percent of his pass-rush snaps last season, the second-highest rate in the NFL. His presence should create opportunities for everyone around him.
• Chase Brown — Tampa Bay has allowed only 79.9 rushing yards per game in season openers under Todd Bowles. Establishing Brown would keep the Buccaneers from focusing entirely on Burrow, Chase and Higgins while helping Cincinnati control the pace of the game. In the name of complementary football, a good defense coupled with a good running game—not to mention a healthy Burrow—could make these Bengals elite.

Game Information

Notes

• Mayfield is 6-1 with a 113.8 passer rating in seven career games against Cincinnati.
• Mayfield has won all three of his starts against Burrow.
• The Buccaneers quarterback is 3-0 in Week 1 since joining Tampa Bay, with nine touchdown passes and no interceptions.
• Cincinnati has won the last three meetings between the teams, including a 34-23 victory in Tampa in 2022.
• Eight of the 13 games in the all-time series have been decided by six points or fewer.
• Burrow’s 28 career 300-yard passing games are tied with Andy Dalton for the most in Bengals history.
• Chase needs 10 receptions to tie Carl Pickens for third place in franchise history and 50 receiving yards to match him for fourth.
• Bengals defensive end Shemar Stewart is doubtful with a knee injury.
• Tampa Bay receiver Jalen McMillan, offensive tackle Justin Skule and running back Sean Tucker are also doubtful.
• Cincinnati will wear orange jerseys, white pants with orange stripes and orange socks for its “Open in Orange” game.

Prediction

It is difficult to know exactly what Cincinnati’s defense will look like before seeing it play a meaningful snap. There are new starters everywhere, and even an enormous collection of talent requires time to develop chemistry.

But there is no denying that the Bengals should be better up front.

Lawrence and Allen give Cincinnati the strength it desperately lacked last season, while Mafe and Howell should benefit from the attention directed toward the interior. If this group can contain Tampa Bay’s running game and make Mayfield uncomfortable, the secondary will have a chance to hold up.

The Bengals’ offense should score. Burrow is healthy, Chase and Higgins are ready to play, and Cincinnati has enough weapons to create matchup problems throughout the afternoon.

Still, this is Week 1, and the Bengals have made a habit of making season openers considerably more stressful than necessary. Mayfield’s history against Cincinnati doesn’t exactly help the nerves.

Expect another one that is too close for comfort, but Cincinnati’s rebuilt defense will make one late stop and Burrow will finally defeat Mayfield.

Final Score: Cincinnati 27, Tampa Bay 20