Cover 32: Bengals see early returns from big offseason investment, plus game balls, biggest gaffes from Week 1

Following a dreadful campaign where they surrendered 28.9 points per outing (third-worst in the league) along with an NFL-worst 6.2 yards per snap, the Cincinnati Bengals dramatically reconstructed their roster. The franchise poured roughly $138.7 million into free agents, heavily targeting stop-unit reinforcements such as Boye Mafe on a $60 million pact, Bryan Cook for $40.25 million, and Jonathan Allen on a $25 million agreement.

Cincinnati further enhanced the trenches by dealing away the tenth selection in the 2026 draft to acquire defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, subsequently handing him a one-year extension worth $28 million to support an elite attack directed by quarterback Joe Burrow.

Those costly investments paid instant dividends during a 33-27 triumph over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 1. Cincinnati's defensive unit collected four takeaways—all via fumbles, including three across back-to-back-to-back series—highlighted by Demetrius Knight Jr.

scooping a Baker Mayfield fumble caused by Myles Murphy and Barrett Carter and racing 27 yards into the end zone. Cook, who finished with six stops, jarred the ball away from Bucky Irving on a play recovered by Mafe, then later corralled a loose ball of his own, while Mafe forced Tampa Bay's fourth fumble.

Backed by sacks from Mafe and Allen along with two pressures each from Allen and Lawrence, the Bengals racked up four total sacks, limited the Buccaneers to 5-of-10 on third downs, and held them to touchdowns on only two of four red-zone appearances.

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