Bengals vs. Buccaneers: 3 Biggest Storylines for Week 1

It's game week! The Cincinnati Bengals play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium to open the 2026 season. Tampa Bay's win total over/under is currently 8.5 as they have navigated an offseason with contract drama surrounding quarterback Baker Mayfield and defensive tackle Vita Vea.

Here are some of the biggest storylines surrounding Sunday's game in Cincinnati.

The defensive end injured his left knee in the first training camp. After the gruesome video and Stewart being carted off, it appeared it would be a long-term injury. The Bengals got lucky: it turned out to be a hyperextension, and Stewart immediately had a chance to play in Week 1, despite the fact the Bengals had no timetable for a return.

He recently returned to practice after a month-long absence and took part in position drills with his fellow defensive linemen. I don't really think the Bengals need to rush Stewart back, which is a testament to their depth on the defensive line, but there are a lot of people who think Stewart could make a big second-year jump after a disappointing rookie season.

Does the under-center/play-action uptick lead to explosiveness?

The Bengals made a concerted effort to increase under-center snaps and play action during training camp. Cincinnati has struggled with explosive plays over the past few seasons. As they tried to ease into this new offensive scheme, they struggled, and Cincinnati's defense no doubt won most of the early practices.

This will be a sticking point for fans, especially if they struggle early. While Cincinnati hasn't been too explosive, they have been efficient and put up a lot of points over the past few seasons. However, few doubt Joe Burrow can handle this shift in offensive approach.

Does Cincinnati get immediate returns from Dexter Lawrence?

Lawrence wreaked havoc in training camp, making plays and doing things that very few football players on earth can do. The interception against the Chicago Bears in joint camp, grabbing and stopping Chase Brown with one arm. The expectations coming into the season were high, but after his stellar training camp, they are even higher.

He is going to draw a double team on most snaps, and whether or not he's able to make game-changing plays will be something people are watching for. If Lawrence posts a big fourth-quarter sack followed by an offensive score, it could tangibly show the difference between last year's defense and this season's.