There's a general rule that Week 1 is never easy or predictable in the NFL: But the Cincinnati Bengals might be the exception to that this year.
This year, the Bengals line up against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the opener. Normally, it might not be such an easy task to take on that team, considering the Bucs have hit the playoffs in five of their last six seasons.
One problem: Buccaneers star defender Vita Vea is causing all sorts of trade drama during training camp right now.
Vea wants out and it’s a huge distraction in Tampa Bay. Funnily enough, his missing Week 1 would be like that defense in New York missing a guy named Dexter Lawrence.
It somehow gets worse for the Buccaneers, too, with Baker Mayfield’s negative comments about his contract
situation causing a star in Tampa Bay, too.
So, big problems from the best defensive player on the roster for the Bucs, plus the star quarterback.
The Bengals still need to figure out a struggling offense and the rebuilt defense, never mind reach Week 1 healthy. But the drama around the Buccaneers would appear to put them in a favorable spot against an uncommon opponent from the NFC, which the franchise has struggled with over the years.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals' Week 1 looking easier thanks to Bucs' Vita Vea trade drama
