Instant analysis after Bengals beat Buccaneers in Week 1

The Cincinnati Bengals started strongly against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, building up a sizable lead before the game became a closer contest. High expectations for the Bengals entering the season were met with impressive early performance. However, Burrow's mistakes and standard Week 1 errors by the Bengals allowed the Buccaneers to mount a late comeback. Here are some key takeaways from the game.

The Bengals' Demetrius Knight made an early impact with the first touchdown of his season, recovering a fumble. Defensively, Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe contributed to three forced fumbles in the first half, demonstrating the effectiveness of their recent investments. Mike Gesicki was particularly effective against the Buccaneers, emerging as a significant matchup challenge for the opposing team throughout the game.

While Ja'Marr Chase had limited targets in the final quarter, his performance earlier in the game wasn't questioned. However, Burrow's performance was notably shaky, with a particularly disastrous sack nearly costing the team a field goal opportunity, followed by a costly pick-six turnover. The Bengals' defense, led by Dexter Lawrence, displayed strong capabilities, indicating that Al Golden's vision for the team is taking shape.

With Burrow's offense needing to eliminate mistakes from last season, the defense has shown promise, providing the Bengals with a balanced approach. The Bengals will next travel to Houston to face the Texans in Week 2, with the game scheduled for a typical early-afternoon Sunday kickoff.