Zac Taylor credits home crowd, Tee Higgins catch in Bengals' win

Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the team's 33-27 NFL Week 1 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that support from the home crowd at Paycor Stadium may have meant the difference between starting the season 1-0 or 0-1. "(Crowd noise) could have been the difference," Taylor said. "I

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Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters after the team's 33-27 NFL Week 1 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that support from the home crowd at Paycor Stadium may have meant the difference between starting the season 1-0 or 0-1.

"(Crowd noise) could have been the difference," Taylor said. "I'm glad to play this game at home. We may not have gotten the win without them."

Taylor added that Tee Higgins' acrobatic catch late in the fourth quarter definitely helped as well.

"That's as big of a catch as you're ever going to see," Taylor said of Higgins' 18-yard reception.

Cincinnati Bengals safety Bryan Cook (6) celebrates after recovering a Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) fumble in the second quarter of the NFL Week 1 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.