CINCINNATI — The Bengals won, the new defense forced four turnovers and Evan McPherson apparently decided that 55-yard field goals are no big deal.
We’ll take it, but Cincinnati’s 33-27 victory over Tampa Bay was considerably more stressful than it needed to be.
Let’s examine the good, the bad and the ugly from the Bengals’ season-opening victory over the Buccaneers.
The Good: Cincinnati’s Defense
Cincinnati spent the offseason rebuilding one of the NFL’s worst defenses. It took one afternoon to provide evidence that the reconstruction may have worked—though I still maintain that this unit will experience some growing pains before reaching its potential.
The Bengals forced and recovered four fumbles, recorded four sacks and held Tampa Bay to 282 total yards. The Buccaneers managed only 89 yards on the ground after Cincinnati allowed an NFL-worst 147.1 rushing yards per game last season.
Myles Murphy’s strip-sack created Cincinnati’s first touchdown when Demetrius Knight Jr. returned the fumble 27 yards. Bryan Cook forced a Bucky Irving fumble on Tampa Bay’s next possession, allowing Boye Mafe to recover and set up another Bengals touchdown.
Cook later recovered a Mayfield fumble near Cincinnati’s goal line, preventing Tampa Bay from scoring. Mafe forced another during the fourth quarter, which T.J. Slaton Jr. recovered to complete the four-takeaway performance.
The defense wasn’t perfect. It missed some tackles, committed too many penalties and allowed Mayfield to pull the Buccaneers within six late.
But Tampa Bay’s offense scored only 20 points—the other seven came on a pick-six—and Cincinnati’s defense repeatedly made game-changing plays.
After the last several seasons, we’re not going to complain about that.
The Bad: Finishing Drives
Stop me if you’ve heard this recently.
An Ohio football team used turnovers to build a commanding lead, repeatedly moved into scoring range and settled for field goals instead of finishing drives with touchdowns, only to watch the opponent turn a potential blowout into a fistfight.
Unlike Buckeyes the night before, the Bengals survived.
Cincinnati accumulated 351 total yards, recorded 26 first downs and controlled possession for more than 31 minutes. However, they scored touchdowns on only two of their five red-zone trips. McPherson made field goals from 20, 55, 58 and 32 yards, accounting for 12 points and becoming the first kicker in franchise history to make two field goals from at least 55 yards in the same game.
McPherson was terrific. The problem is that Cincinnati needed him too often.
The Bengals had opportunities to put Tampa Bay away before halftime and again during the second half. Instead, stalled drives left enough points on the field for the Buccaneers to remain within striking distance until the final possession.
Field goals are cool. Touchdowns are Snoop Dogg swag.
The Ugly: Defensive Offside Penalties
Once is a mistake. Four times is a problem.
Cincinnati’s defensive line was flagged for offside four times Sunday. B.J. Hill committed the first, Jonathan Allen was called twice and Slaton added another.
Those penalties accounted for only 20 yards, but the damage went beyond the yardage. Several came in short-yardage situations, extending Tampa Bay possessions and giving Mayfield free opportunities to continue drives.
The aggression was understandable. Cincinnati’s rebuilt defensive front spent much of the afternoon attacking Mayfield, forcing fumbles and creating the type of disruption the Bengals have been seeking for years.
But there is a difference between anticipating the snap and lining up on Tampa Bay’s side of the football.
Four offside penalties from the defensive line were careless, unnecessary and completely avoidable. Against the Buccaneers, Cincinnati’s four takeaways helped erase those mistakes.
Against Baltimore, Kansas City or Buffalo, those same penalties could decide the game.
The new defense looked faster, stronger and considerably more dangerous. Now it needs to learn where the line of scrimmage is.
