NFL · Sep 13, 2026
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Cincinnati Bengals: Bengals Beat Buccaneers 33–27 After Two Defensive Touchdowns
By Row Seventeen ·
Cincinnati Bengals beat Tampa Bay Buccaneers 33–27 (NFL) on September 13, 2026.
D. Knight’s fumble return helped Cincinnati build an early lead. J. Trotter’s interception return brought Tampa Bay closer, but the Bengals won 33–27.
27–33FINAL
Key moments
Sources ↓- Opening
Tampa Bay opened with a 34-yard field goal, but Cincinnati took the lead later in the first quarter.
Read in context ↘ - Middle stages
Cincinnati recovered another Mayfield fumble early in the second quarter, this one by B. Cook.
Read in context ↘ - Closing stages
Mayfield scored on a nine-yard run, and Tampa Bay made the extra point with 3:19 left. The Buccaneers got no closer, and Cincinnati won 33–27 in regulation.
Read in context ↘
Cincinnati takes an early lead
Tampa Bay opened with a 34-yard field goal, but Cincinnati took the lead later in the first quarter. Baker Mayfield was sacked and lost a fumble, which D. Knight recovered and returned for a touchdown. The extra point put the Bengals ahead 7–3.
Mayfield lost another fumble on a pass play, with B. Mafe recovering for Cincinnati. Joe Burrow then threw a two-yard touchdown pass to M. Gesicki. After the extra point, the Bengals led 14–3 at the end of the first quarter.
The Bengals extend their halftime lead
Cincinnati recovered another Mayfield fumble early in the second quarter, this one by B. Cook. C. Brown later scored on a five-yard run, and the extra point stretched the Bengals’ lead to 21–3.
B. Irving answered with a 10-yard touchdown run for Tampa Bay, followed by an extra point. Cincinnati added a 20-yard field goal with 10 seconds left in the half and went into halftime ahead 24–10.
J. Trotter scores on an interception return
The teams traded long field goals in the third quarter: Cincinnati made one from 55 yards, and Tampa Bay made one from 51. J. Trotter then intercepted Burrow and returned the ball 38 yards for a Buccaneers touchdown.
Tampa Bay made the extra point after Trotter’s return, cutting Cincinnati’s lead to 27–20. That seven-point margin held through the end of the third quarter.
Fourth-quarter field goals secure the win
Cincinnati opened the fourth quarter with a 58-yard field goal. Mayfield later lost a fumble on another sack, and T. Slaton recovered for the Bengals. Cincinnati added a 32-yard field goal with 5:23 remaining to take a 33–20 lead.
Mayfield scored on a nine-yard run, and Tampa Bay made the extra point with 3:19 left. The Buccaneers got no closer, and Cincinnati won 33–27 in regulation.
Based on nflverse schedule and play-by-play data (CC BY 4.0). Source endpoints are cross-checked within the same source family, not independent reporting. This is an original, AI-assisted recap.
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Published 2026-10-16. Game date shown above.
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