Our Buccaneers vs Bengals prediction favours Cincinnati, at 6pm BST on the opening Sunday of the 2026 NFL season. Squawka Signal’s live read on this game, including where the value sits, is in the block just below.
Both finished 2025 with losing records, Tampa Bay at 8-9 and Cincinnati at 6-11. Neither defence, moreover, held up: the Bengals conceded 492 points, more than any side in this round.
Buccaneers vs Bengals: our editor’s prop
One editorial call to sit alongside the live Signal numbers above.
AT 
Our prop
An editorial call, not a Signal model output. 18+ | BeGambleAware.org
Buccaneers vs Bengals: 2025 season form
Tampa Bay finished 8-9 at minus 31; Cincinnati 6-11 at minus 78. Neither differential flatters them.
| 2025 regular season | Buccaneers | Bengals |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 8-9 | 6-11 |
| Points for | 380 | 414 |
| Points against | 411 | 492 |
| Point differential | -31 | -78 |
| Sacks recorded | 37 | 35 |
| Sacks allowed | 38 | 36 |
| Interceptions made | 13 | 13 |
| Third-down offence | 41.2% | 43.4% |
| Red-zone offence | 54.0% | 66.7% |
| Red zone allowed | 69.8% | 62.9% |
| Opponent passer rating | 97.5 | 99.4 |
This fixture is defined by defensive failure. Cincinnati conceded 492 points and Tampa Bay 411, so the highest total in the round is the reasonable expectation.
Buccaneers vs Bengals injury report and team news
This section updates as soon as the Out, Doubtful and Questionable tags land. Notably, for now, both sides expect their first-choice quarterbacks.
Baker Mayfield starts for Tampa Bay after 3,693 passing yards. Emeka Egbuka leads the receivers, moreover, following 938 yards.
Joe Burrow starts for Cincinnati, with Ja’Marr Chase the primary target after 1,412 receiving yards. Chase Brown carries the run game, meanwhile, following 1,019.
The matchup that settles it: Ja’Marr Chase against a Tampa Bay secondary
Chase gained 1,412 receiving yards in 2025, fourth in the league, and Tampa Bay conceded a 97.5 opponent passer rating over the same season.
The red zone, similarly, compounds it. Tampa Bay allowed 69.8% of opponent trips inside the twenty to become touchdowns, the weakest rate here, and Burrow will not waste that.
Players to watch
- Joe Burrow (CIN, QB): The best quarterback on the field, notably by some distance.
- Ja’Marr Chase (CIN, WR): 1,412 receiving yards, indeed fourth in the league.
- Chase Brown (CIN, RB): 1,019 rushing yards for a 6-11 side.
- Baker Mayfield (TB, QB): 3,693 passing yards, moreover, against a leaky Cincinnati defence.
How to watch Buccaneers vs Bengals
Kickoff is 1:00 PM ET on Sunday, September 13, which is 6pm BST in the UK. That makes it one of the friendliest windows of the week for British viewers, indeed, landing in the early evening rather than the small hours. Sky Sports has the coverage, and NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries every game.
| Detail | Buccaneers vs Bengals |
|---|---|
| Date | Sunday, September 13, 2026 |
| Kickoff | 6:00pm BST / 1:00 PM ET, Sunday 13 Sep |
| Venue | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati |
| TV | Sky Sports |
| Live stream | NFL Game Pass (DAZN) |
| Week | Week 1, 2026 NFL season |
Buccaneers vs Bengals prediction and score projection
Our Buccaneers vs Bengals prediction is a narrow Cincinnati win in a game worth watching for reasons neither coach will enjoy.
Burrow is the best quarterback on the field and Tampa Bay’s red-zone defence the weakest unit here. However Cincinnati conceded 492 points themselves. So we will take the Bengals, 30-26. Which side carries the value, though, is a separate question from who wins, and the live read on that sits in the Signal block.
Every fixture in the round is covered across our NFL UK hub, and the 32 club pages sit on the NFL teams hub. Kickoff times are confirmed on NFL.com.
Buccaneers vs Bengals FAQ
Cincinnati, narrowly. Indeed the Bengals have Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase, and Tampa Bay conceded 69.8% in the red zone. Ultimately the live win probability sits in the Signal block on this page.
Notably 6pm BST on Sunday 13 September, which is 1:00 PM ET.
Sky Sports has the coverage and NFL Game Pass on DAZN carries every game. Moreover kickoff is Notably 6pm BST on Sunday 13 September, which is 1:00 PM ET.
Joe Burrow, with Ja’Marr Chase as his primary target. Meanwhile Baker Mayfield starts for Tampa Bay.
Bengals 30-26. Both defences conceded heavily last season, so this projects as the highest-scoring game in the round.
18+ | Please gamble responsibly | BeGambleAware.org | Signal probabilities approximate at time of writing and subject to change