Dexter Lawrence II’s first regular-season game with the Cincinnati Bengals put forth a spectacle the team envisioned when it splashed moolah on its defense this offseason.
Cincinnati forced four fumbles in Sunday’s 33-27 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
, including turnovers on three consecutive first-half possessions. The Bengals converted those three takeaways into touchdowns on their way to a 24-10 halftime advantage.Afterward, Lawrence linked responsibility for Cincinnati’s success to the defensive front.
“We know the team goes as we go, so we put that responsibility on our back, and we knew we needed to play physical and strong and with a motor, and that's what we did,” Lawrence told Mike Petraglia.
Dexter Lawrence II “We know the team goes
as we go, so we put that responsibility on our back, and we knew we needed to play physical and strong and with a motor, and that's what we did.” pic.twitter.com/tcFpOWWLUA
— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) September 13, 2026
Lawrence also appreciated the atmosphere surrounding his Bengals debut.
“It was loud. I like that. Keep it coming,” Lawrence said of the Paycor Stadium crowd. “I just kept pumping ‘em up whenever I had the chance.”
Lawrence recorded a quarterback hit, while Cincinnati’s defense held Tampa Bay to 20 offensive points.
This Bengals unit featured several new bodies via offseason additions, and the opener provided a laudable first result, with Lawrence’s postgame message suggesting this first-rate play will carry forward.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Dexter Lawrence sends message after Bengals defense fuels Week 1 win
