Buccaneers vs Bengals predictions, graded
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Cincinnati Bengals · Week 1, 2026 · Sun, Sep 13 · Final: Buccaneers 27, Bengals 33 · Updated
Who do pundits pick in Buccaneers vs Bengals? Of 21 pundits with a call on record, 13 take the Bengals and 8 take the Buccaneers. 5 named a score; the median has the Bengals by 3. The Bengals won 33-27, so 13 of 21 had the winner. Their graded calls averaged 61 out of 100.
Who the room took
21 pundits · each counted once, by their latest callBuccaneers vs Bengals picks by outlet
Each pundit counted once, at the outlet or show their latest call ran on. An outlet is listed when two or more of its pundits have picked.
- Sports IllustratedBengals 4, Buccaneers 4
- CBS Sportsall 4 Bengals
- First Things First (podcast)Buccaneers 2, Bengals 1
- Nightcap (podcast)Bengals 1, Buccaneers 1
The other 4 pundits write or talk elsewhere: Bengals 3, Buccaneers 1.
Buccaneers vs Bengals score predictions
5 pundits named a score; the median call is Bengals by 3, and the final was Bengals by 6.
Each dot is one pundit’s latest score call, placed at the winning margin it named. The solid bar is how the game actually finished. Hover or tap a dot for the pundit and the score.
- Jordan DajaniBengals 21, Buccaneers 20Hit · 88
- Jared DubinBengals 27, Buccaneers 21Hit · 100
- Mike FlorioBengals 27, Buccaneers 24Hit · 93
- Pete PriscoBengals 29, Buccaneers 28Hit · 88
- John BreechBengals 23, Buccaneers 16Hit · 98
Buccaneers at Bengals: how they came in
The Buccaneers went 8-9 last season and the Bengals went 6-11 last season. On win totals, 10 pundits put the Buccaneers at 8.5 wins on average, and 11 pundits put the Bengals at 10.9 wins on average.
Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Record coming in
- 0-0
- Unit ranks
- offense 22nd, defense 6th of 32 (this season)
- Last season
- 8-9
- Win-total calls
- 11 pundits · average 8.5 · 2 to 17 wins
- Record coming in
- 0-0
- Unit ranks
- offense 6th, defense 18th of 32 (this season)
- Last season
- 6-11
- Win-total calls
- 11 pundits · average 10.9 · 9 to 13 wins
Buccaneers and Bengals players to watch
Each club’s starting quarterback, leading rusher, receiver and tight end, and its sack and tackle leaders, with their 2026 regular season so far, with the latest call on each from a pundit on our leaderboard whose record beats the naive pick (69 pundits clear that bar), made since the 2026 schedule came out. “No.” is their rank there.
Buccaneers
- Baker MayfieldStarting QB · QB
922 passing yards · 3 TD, 4 INT · 60.6% completions · 6 games · 32nd in the NFL in passing yards
“Mayfield would seemingly be good to go, based on Bowles' current timeline, for their game on Oct. 25 against the Carolina Panthers.” the article →
Baker Mayfield to outplay his draft cost (a QB2)
“Mayfield does not have elite rushing upside, but he is a standout pick as a QB2 when you pair everything together.” the article →
- Bucky IrvingRB1 · RB
825 rushing yards on 167 carries · 8 TD · 22 catches for 106 · 9 games · 4th in the NFL in rushing yards
Bucky Irving to be 1st on the depth chart
“A lot of people are convinced Irving will be a committee back this season. ... Irving still averaged 20.3 touches per game. That's workhorse usage by modern standards.” the article →
Bucky Irving to fall short of his draft cost (RB22, Overall RK57 | ECR vs. ADP: -13)
“Irving could be a nice bounce-back candidate in 2026 or a massive disappointment that loses work to Gainwell and Tucker all year. I'll buy the dip if he slips in some drafts, but I won't go out of my way to draft him this season.” the article →
- Emeka EgbukaWR1 · WR
31 catches for 278 yards · 2 TD · 7 games · 81st in the NFL in receiving yards
Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart
“He's going to be the alpha receiver in Tampa” the article →
Emeka Egbuka to be 1st on the depth chart
“Egbuka can establish himself as the team's clear WR1 and return WR1/2 production.” the article →
- Cade OttonTE1 · TE
23 catches for 211 yards · 0 TD · 8 games · 118th in the NFL in receiving yards
- David WalkerSack leader · LB
4 sacks · 15 solo tackles · 8 games · 30th in the NFL in sacks
- Josiah TrotterTackle leader · LB
1 sack · 36 solo tackles · 1 interception · 8 games · 14th in the NFL in solo tackles
Bengals
- Joe BurrowStarting QB · QB
2,386 passing yards · 23 TD, 6 INT · 74.0% completions · 8 games · 2nd in the NFL in passing yards
Joe Burrow to stay with Cincinnati Bengals
“There's a better chance of astronauts landing on Jupiter next week than the Bengals trading Burrow, who is signed through the 2029 season.” the article →
“Now they're going down to Houston. Joe Burrow's got a, you know, a little bit of a back issue, but I I fully anticipate him playing.” the article →
- Chase BrownRB1 · RB
397 rushing yards on 103 carries · 1 TD · 39 catches for 207 · 8 games · 23rd in the NFL in rushing yards
Chase Brown to be 1st on the depth chart
“I do not believe backup Samaje Perine is a threat to Brown's workhorse role.” the article →
Chase Brown to outplay his draft cost (round two)
“Chase Brown, I'm all in on... So I'm all in on Chase Brown” the article →
- Tee HigginsWR1 · WR
48 catches for 758 yards · 6 TD · 8 games · 5th in the NFL in receiving yards
“I don't think Tee Higgins plays in this game because even with the side work, he's been listed as DMP for both days. (Week 5)” the article →
Tee Higgins to be 2nd on the depth chart
“we're kind of talking like a guy that's essentially a low end one, and really but in his role though he's a high end two. I'm gonna go with T Higgins” the article →
- Mike GesickiTE1 · TE
19 catches for 252 yards · 6 TD · 7 games · 101st in the NFL in receiving yards
- Boye MafeSack leader · DE
5.5 sacks · 13 solo tackles · 8 games · 12th in the NFL in sacks
Boye Mafe to be 1st on the depth chart
“Murphy and Mafe are listed as the first-teamers right now” the article →
- Jordan BattleTackle leader · S
36 solo tackles · 3 interceptions · 8 games · 14th in the NFL in solo tackles
Every call on Buccaneers at Bengals
1–24 of 24
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Buccaneers
This cat can still play. Buccaneers get mauled in the jungle by Joe Burrow and the Bengals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Cincinnati
I think the Bucks are better than Cincinnati... again, I don't need outright winners even though I do think Bucks going outright.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Bengals
I'm going with Buccaneers The over the Bengals.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Cincinnati
I think Tampa Bay goes to Cincinnati and wins outright. At the very least, I don't think Cincinnati's beating them by margin.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Cincinnati Bengals
I don't think the Bengals are allowed to win in the month of September... So I'm definitely going with Tampa Bay.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Bengals
You worry about your team getting beat by Tampa at home.
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Tampa
I know so. Tampa ain't going to know what hit them.
Cincinnati Bengals to score 42 against Tampa
And Bango going to put up about 42 points. I'm telling you that.
Cincinnati Bengals 21 — Buccaneers 20
Prediction: Bengals 21, Buccaneers 20
Cincinnati Bengals 27 — Buccaneers 21
Prediction: Bengals 27, Buccaneers 21
Cincinnati Bengals 27 — Buccaneers 24
Bengals 27, Buccaneers 24.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Bengals
Buccaneers at Bengals — Gilberto Manzano: Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Buccaneers
Buccaneers at Bengals — John Pluym: Bengals
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Buccaneers
Buccaneers at Bengals — Matt Verderame: Bengals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Bengals
Buccaneers at Bengals — Mike Kadlick: Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Buccaneers
Buccaneers at Bengals — Albert Breer: Bengals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Bengals
Buccaneers at Bengals — Mitch Goldich: Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Buccaneers
Buccaneers at Bengals — Eva Geitheim: Bengals
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat Bengals
Buccaneers at Bengals — Conor Orr: Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals 29 — Buccaneers 28
Pick: Bengals 29, Buccaneers 28
Cincinnati Bengals 23 — Buccaneers 16
Bengals 23-16 over Buccaneers
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Tampa Bay Bucs
Mitchell, if Joe Burrow's upright, I've got them winning that game.
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Tampa Bay
Bucks, Bengals... I'll give the Bengals a win, but I'm going with a three and a half for Tampa Bay.
Cincinnati Bengals to beat Buccaneers
Buccaneers (at Bengals). ... That's not a good combination for the Bucs, who will be facing a desperate Bengals team that's going into a make-or-break season.