The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will begin their 2026 season on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, and at least one NFL analyst expects them to leave Paycor Stadium just short of a win.
CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco released his Week 1 predictions and has Cincinnati beating Tampa Bay 29-28. The Bucs enter the matchup as 3.5-point underdogs in Prisco's preview, but his final score suggests he expects a much tighter game than the spread indicates.
Prisco pointed to Tampa Bay's wide receiver situation as one concern for Baker Mayfield, especially with an improved Bengals defense waiting on the other side. He still expects Cincinnati to have its own problems when Joe Burrow faces a Tampa Bay pass rush that added pieces during the offseason.
"This is a tough
road game to open the season for the Bucs," Prisco wrote. "They have some injury issues at receiver that could be in play for Baker Mayfield against an improved Bengals defense."
That puts two of the game's biggest questions on opposite sides of the ball. Tampa Bay will need to keep Mayfield and the offense moving despite its concerns at receiver, while the Bucs' defensive front gets its first opportunity to see how its changes translate against Burrow and Cincinnati's passing attack.
Prisco ultimately gives the Bengals the edge, but barely. "In the end, the Bengals will find a way to win a close one," Prisco wrote.
His 29-28 prediction would certainly qualify. For Tampa Bay, pulling off the road upset would give the Bucs an early statement win against Burrow and a Bengals team facing plenty of expectations in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: CBS Sports predicts Bucs will fall short against Bengals in Week 1
