How to Watch Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Cincinnati Bengals: NFL Week 1 2026

Watch Info

• Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026
• Time: 1:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: FOX (local broadcast)
• Streaming: NFL+ (in-market mobile), NFL Sunday Ticket on YouTube TV (out-of-market)
• Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game Preview

Tampa Bay opens its 2026 season on the road against a Bengals team looking to bounce back after another season that fell short of expectations. The Buccaneers finished 8-9 last year, second in the NFC South, after a promising 6-2 start unraveled into a four-games-in-five stretch of losses that kept them out of the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Cincinnati, meanwhile, enters the year hoping better injury luck and a retooled roster can translate into a return to the postseason.

This is a fresh, low-mileage matchup for both fan bases — a chance to see how each team's offseason changes look in live competition before division play heats up later in the season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers News & Storylines

Quarterback Baker Mayfield is entering the season looking to rebound from his statistically weakest year in Tampa Bay — 3,693 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions on 63.2% completion while battling injuries to himself and his top skill-position weapons. Running back Bucky Irving, who rushed for 1,122 yards as a rookie, missed much of last season and will be a key barometer for the offense's health. The Bucs also lost longtime receiver Mike Evans, who left for San Francisco after 12 seasons and 11 straight 1,000-yard campaigns, leaving Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. as the primary targets alongside Irving.

On defense, linebacker Lavonte David retired after 14 seasons with the club, and the Bucs used their first-round pick on Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. to jumpstart a pass rush that finished in the bottom half of the league with just 37 sacks last season. Tampa Bay also added linebacker Alex Anzalone and defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson in free agency. New offensive coordinator Zac Robinson takes over the play-calling with an emphasis on establishing the run game, and the team heads into the opener amid reported trade-request tension involving defensive tackle Vita Vea and ongoing contract talks for Mayfield.

Cincinnati Bengals News & Storylines

Cincinnati's offense remains centered on Joe Burrow, with a roster built to push for the postseason after last year's disappointment. The biggest offseason departure came on the defensive line, where longtime pass-rush leader Trey Hendrickson left in free agency for division rival Baltimore. The Bengals are counting on continued development from recent first-round picks — including edge rusher Myles Murphy — to help fill that void and keep the pass rush competitive in what's shaping up as a favorable overall schedule for Cincinnati this season.

Key Matchup to Watch

Tampa Bay's rebuilt pass rush, led by rookie Rueben Bain Jr., against a Bengals offensive line protecting Joe Burrow will be an early test of whether the Bucs' offseason investment in that unit pays off. On the other side, watch how Cincinnati's retooled edge group performs without Trey Hendrickson against a Buccaneers offense trying to establish the run early under new coordinator Zac Robinson.

What to Expect

Both teams enter with something to prove after disappointing finishes to 2025, making this an intriguing measuring-stick opener rather than a marquee primetime showcase. Expect an offense-forward game with Burrow and Mayfield both looking to set an early tone for their respective campaigns.