Bengals Enter Week 1 Fresh Off Preseason Statement Win as Buccaneers Visit Paycor Stadium

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Colbie Young (86) scores a touchdown in front of Chicago Bears' Dontae Manning (27) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)AP Photo/Joshua A. BickelBy Sina Torki | Special CorrespondentThe Cincinnati Bengals host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a Week 1 NFL matchup on Sunday, September 13, 2026, with kickoff set for 1:00 PM EDT at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. Experts give the Bengals the edge at 63% to win against the Buccaneers at 37%, with a projected final score of Bengals 27, Buccaneers 24 — a projection echoed by simulation site Dimers, which also has Cincinnati winning 27-24.A revamped Bengals defense closes camp with a statementCincinnati closed out its preseason with a 27-9 win over the Chicago Bears on Saturday, August 22, improving to 2-0 in exhibition play. Backup quarterback Josh Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns, and Sean Clifford added a 20-yard touchdown pass of his own, while kicker Evan McPherson connected from 58 and 25 yards. Starting quarterback Joe Burrow and most of Cincinnati’s regular starters watched from the sideline in street clothes as the team leaned on its depth pieces.Even while resting, Burrow made his intentions for the season clear, telling ESPN’s Marty Smith that he’s pushing urgency on the whole roster because there are players and coaches competing for their jobs this year, and that he views his own situation the same way. He said he wants every player attacking every rep in practice to squeeze the most out of it.The comments come after an offseason in which Cincinnati overhauled its defense, sending its No. 10 overall pick to the Giants in a trade for All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence II and adding Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Jonathan Allen and Kyle Dugger, while keeping the NFL’s most loaded offense intact. On paper, it’s one of the more talented rosters in the league — the preseason finale in Cincinnati’s building was an early look at whether that talent translates once the games count.Storylines on the Tampa Bay sideThe Buccaneers enter Week 1 with defensive tackle Vita Vea back in the fold after agreeing to a contract extension that effectively guarantees he plays in the opener if healthy. Vea had previously demanded a trade and held in during camp, but his return gives Tampa Bay a formidable interior pass rush to test Cincinnati’s offensive line early. The Buccaneers recorded 37 sacks last season and added first-round rookie Rueben Bain Jr. to the front.Cincinnati also saw an unusual preseason departure of its own: undrafted rookie defensive back Ceyair Wright left the team to pursue an acting career. A former top-200 recruit who played at USC and Nebraska, Wright finished his college career with 109 total tackles and three interceptions and has appeared in seven films and TV shows since 2014, including a role in Space Jam: A New Legacy. Bengals coach Zac Taylor confirmed the move and wished him well.Game detailsTeams: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati BengalsDate: Sunday, September 13, 2026Time: 1:00 PM EDTVenue: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OhioCompetition: NFL Week 1Win probabilityTeamExpert %Cincinnati Bengals63%Tampa Bay Buccaneers37%Polymarket pricesMarketSelectionPriceMoneylineCincinnati Bengals64¢MoneylineTampa Bay Buccaneers38¢SpreadBengals -3.551¢SpreadBuccaneers +3.553¢TotalOver 51.553¢TotalUnder 51.552¢Expert prediction: Buccaneers vs. BengalsLeveraging 10,000 simulations of Sunday’s matchup, experts have Cincinnati as the more likely winner at 63%, with home-field advantage at Paycor Stadium factoring into a projected 27-24 final. That reading lines up closely with Dimers’ independent projection of the same 27-24 scoreline, and with the three-point spread. The totals market sits near a coin flip, reflecting a game that could hinge on how quickly Cincinnati’s newly built offensive front adjusts to a Tampa Bay defensive line strengthened by Vea’s return — the same offensive line Cincinnati was still testing with backups in its preseason finale.Best betThe top pick for Sunday’s opener is the Bengals moneyline — the clear lean from both the expert simulation model and Dimers’ independent projection, with Cincinnati favored at home in a game both models see the Bengals winning by a field goal.These predictions and probabilities are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change as kickoff approaches. It is important to gamble responsibly and consult trustworthy sources for the latest information when making betting decisions.NFL Prediction market sign-up bonusesBengals and Buccaneers fans across the US can use prediction markets to trade on the NFL opener as an alternative to standard betting. Here are the top options and available promo codes for new users:PlatformNFL Eligible?August Sign-Up BonusVerified Promo CodesPolymarketYes$20CUSE, MASS, OREGON, SILIVEKalshiYes$15 - $500SYRACUSE, OREGONLIVE1, MASSLIVE1, SILIVEPolymarket is a prediction market platform, not a sportsbook. Users trade positions on event outcomes using real funds. Must be 18+ and eligible under applicable law. Trading involves risk. Prices reflect the market at time of writing and are subject to change. All times listed are EDT.NFL Polymarket promo code “CLEVELAND” extends $20 preseason bonus to 2026 regular season Week 1$500 Kalshi promo code “CLEVELAND” extended across US through NFL Week 1Experts release early Buccaneers vs. Bengals prediction after key Week 1 roster updatesKalshi promo code “CLEVELAND” extends $500 referral bonus to Browns vs. Bills preseason live oddsNew Polymarket promo code “CLEVELAND” launches $20 NFL Preseason bonus for Saturday gamesLearn more about our gaming editorial staff.If you or a loved one has questions and needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call the Ohio Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the National Council on Program Gambling Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700 or visit 1800gambler.net for more information. 21+ and present in Ohio. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. 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