TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers caged the Cincinnati Bengals in their preseason opener. It was the first time the teams went head-to-head following the Tom Brady era.
The tides have shifted since the Bengals defeated then-quarterback Brady and the Buccaneers 34-23 at Raymond James Stadium in 2022. The beginning of the Brady vs. Burrow showdown looked promising for the Bucs, but the team crumbled after halftime, allowing Cincinnati to take control.
Saturday’s preseason opener showcased Bucs’ quarterback Kyle Trask at the helm with much of the team’s rookies getting a taste of what’s to come this season.
Meanwhile, some of the Bengals starters, such as quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Tee Higgins started the game.
While the Bengals scored first with a Higgins touchdown, the Buccaneers answered as rookie running back Bucky Irving secured the team’s first preseason touchdown. Kicker Chase McLaughlin nailed a 35-yard field goal to extend the Bucs’ lead by 3 points before Cincinnati came back with a late touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Bengals’ Burton scored on a 37-yard touchdown, but it didn’t take long for the Bucs to reclaim the lead and finish out the matchup on top with a 3-yard touchdown by Jefferson.
FINAL SCORE: Buccaneers 17 – Bengals 14
0:28: Woodside scrambles for 7 yards.
0:50: Bengals’ Woodside launches the ball downfield for a 38-yard completion to Burton.
1:05: BUCS TOUCHDOWN!!! Jefferson takes the ball in for a 3-yard touchdown. The extra point is good and the Bucs reclaim the lead 17-14,
1:09: Pass interreference called on Bengals’ Robinson.
1:09: False start called on Bucs’ Metz.
2:06: Wolford goes short middle to Jefferson for 18 yards.
2:32: Wolford passes short middle to Knue for 11 yards.
2:57: Wolford passes deep middle to Knue for 18 yards.
3:40: Woodside passes deep left to Burton for a 37-yard touchdown. The extra point is good and the Bengals lead 14-10.
5:42: Woodside passes short middle to Butler for 12 yards.
6:10: Holding called on Bengals’ Carman.
6:21: Camarda punts 42 yards to CIN 24. Bengals’ Lassiter returns the ball for 8 yards.
10:42: Bengals’ quarterback Woodside passes short to McLachlan for 23 yards.
11:16: False start called on Bucs’ Carman.
13:18: Wolford goes deep to Webb for 19 yards.
14:23: Wolford passes short to Ko Kieft for 8 yards.
15:00: Williams foes up the middle for no gain.
End of the third quarter: Buccaneers 10 – Bengals 7
1:34: Neutral Zone Infraction called on Bengals’ Bell.
5:22: Camarda punts 51 yards to end zone for a touchback.
6:07: Wolford passes short left to Thompson for 10 yards.
7:26: SACKED. Bengals take down Wolford for a loss of 6.
8:19: Browning passes short right to Lassiter for 15 yards. Holding called on Bengals’ Carman.
9:13: Camarda kicks 59 yards from TB 35 to CIN 6. Holding called on Bengals’ Dowell.
9:16: BUCS SCORE! McLaughlin nails a 35-yard field goal to put the Bucs up 10-7.
10:40: Wolford sacked at CIN 20 for a loss of 5 yards.
11:57: Tucker goes up the middle for 26 yards.
15:00: McPherson kicks 65 yards from CIN 35 to end zone for a touchback.
End of the second quarter: Bengals 7 – Buccaneers 7
0:05: McPherson’s 58-yard field goal is no good. Bucs-Bengals remain tied at the half
1:52: TRASK SACKED. Bengals’ Heyward and Gunter took down Trask for a 10-yard loss.
2:41: Trask passes short left to Durham for 11 yards.
3:22: Browning passes deep left to Lassiter but it’s INTERCEPTED by Bucs’ Isaac for no gain.
3:27: McLaughlin attempts a 51-yard field goal and it’s no good.
4:39: Offensive holding called on Bucs Walton.
5:42: Trask passes deep right to Jarrett for 28 yards.
9:12: False start called on Bengals’ Cochran.
10:44: Trask goes deep to Miller. The ball is intercepted by Bengals’ Newton.
11:27: Trask fumbles at TB 49 and recovers the ball. No gain.
12:48: Irving runs the ball for 8 yards.
15:00: Rehkow punts 50 yards to TB 15. Bucs’ Palmer returns to the ball for 10 yards.
End of the first quarter: Bengals 7 – Buccaneers 7
0:42: Browning passes short middle to Evans for 2 yards.
1:39: BUCS TOUCHDOWN!! Rookie Bucky Irving runs the ball in for a 5-yard touchdown. The extra point is good and the Bucs tie it up 7-7.
2:51: Trask passes short yo Palmer for 21 yards. He was pushed out shortly before the end zone.
4:20: Trask passes short to McMillan for 19 yards.
5:30: Kyle Trask passes deep to Miller for 24 yards.
6:18: Browning passes short to Jackson for 3 yards.
7:07: Jake Camarda punts 36 yards to CIN 34 — downed by Bucs’ Deckers.
8:29: Irving takes the ball for a 4-yard gain.
8:34: Bengals’ Evan McPherson kicks 61 yards from CIN 35 to TB 4. Bucs’ rookie Bucky Irving returns the ball for 22 yards.
8:38: BENGALS TOUCHDOWN! Burrow throws to Higgins for a 10-yard touchdown. The extra point is good as Cincinnati leads 7-0.
9:15: Brown goes to the right for a 1-yard loss.
9:20: Burrow passes incomplete to Tee Higgins. Pass interreference called on Bucs’ Hayes.
9:39: False start called on Bengals’ Brown.
10:18: Brown goes to the right but gets pushed back for a 2-yard loss.
11:03: Burrow passes short middle to Andrei Iosivas for 23 yards.
12:27: Bengals’ quarterback Joe Burrow passes short middle to Trenton Irwin for 9 yards.
15:00: Bucs’ Chase McLaughlin kicks 64 yards from TB 35 to CIN 1. Bengals’ Chase Brown returns the ball for 26 yards.
