The more interesting question is whether either team's offseason fixes actually show up once the games count. Zac Robinson takes over as Tampa's offensive coordinator after running Atlanta's offense, and how fast Godwin and third-round rookie Ted Hurst adjust to a new scheme says a lot about how the Bucs replace Evans' production. Cincinnati added Joe Flacco as insurance behind Burrow — not a quarterback battle, just protection against exactly the kind of injury that sank last season.
Neither team finished 2025 well. The Bucs dropped 4 of their last 5 before salvaging the finale over Carolina, while the Bengals split their final 5 with a pair of blowout wins sandwiched around a 0-24 shutout loss to Baltimore. Both records tell the story of teams that talked themselves into a fast start and then couldn't hold it.
The injury boards are mostly clean for a Week 1 opener, notable given how much both rosters got remade this offseason. Tampa's headline names — Mayfield, Godwin, Vita Vea — are all full-go, with cornerback Benjamin Morrison and running back Bucky Irving the only real question marks. Cincinnati's list reads similarly, with tight end Erick All and rookie center Connor Lew carrying questionable tags into camp.
Neither team is walking into Week 1 with a settled identity, which makes this one more about first impressions than anything decisive. If Burrow looks like his old self and Cincinnati's defense holds up its end, the Bengals have a real shot in a wide-open AFC North. If Mayfield gets paid and Tampa's rebuilt receiver room clicks early, the Bucs' path back to an NFC South title starts here.