This Bengals Team Should Be Different in Week 1… Now Prove It

The Cincinnati Bengals open the 2026 season against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at a sold-out Paycor Stadium. James Rapien shares his final Bengals-Bucs score prediction, the latest injury updates on DJ Turner, Ja’Marr Chase and Shemar Stewart, and everything Cincinnati must do to secure a Week 1 victory. Can Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and the Bengals’ offense carry the team? Will Dexter Lawrence and Cincinnati’s revamped defensive front make a statement from the jump? Plus: Why Cincinnati’s clean bill of health should help the Bengals avoid another strange and frustrating Week 1 performance... Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.