Bengals @ Buccaneers
Final Score: Bengals 19, Buccaneers 14
Writer: Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)
While some preseason matchups featured up-and-coming quarterbacks across the NFL, you aren’t going to find that here as Joe Burrow‘s recovery from a knee injury in 2020 wasn’t quick enough for him to take part in the Bengals preseason matchup against the reigning Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccanneers. After a devastating knee injury to Burrow in Week 11, the Bengals’ 2020 season fizzled as they won two of their final six matchups, ending the season with a 4-11-1 record. They look to build upon their young core as they enter 2021, and we are going to get our first look at rookie wideout Ja’Marr Chase. Another point to monitor is the offensive line, as they need to improve and protect Burrow moving forward if the team wants to succeed. On the flip side, the Buccanneers dominated all the way through the Super Bowl, barely showing signs of weakness across the season. They are retaining all 22 starters from their Super Bowl roster, and while they don’t have a headlining rookie from the 2021 class to look out for, they have a lot of young, talented players fighting to make the roster. The Bengals ended up taking the victory 19-14. Let’s break down what we saw.
Cincinnati Bengals
Quarterback
Kyle Shurmur: 12/19, 108 yards, INT, Fumble | 2 carries, 0 yards
Brandon Allen: 7/10, 77 yards, INT | 1 carry, 13 yards
Not a lot to talk about here as the quarterback we all wanted to see, second-year pro Joe Burrow, isn’t ready for game action just yet. Kyle Shurmur, son of journeyman NFL coach Pat Shurmur, and Brandon Allen got all the action. Allen got the first-team reps, and his first three drives ended like this: Fumble. Fumble. Interception. Allen’s final drive was a 10 play, 69 yard, 5+ minute drive which ended in a touchdown and basically ended the half on a high note. While Kyle Shurmur wasn’t able to lead any drives to the end zone, he did set up four successful field goal attempts in the second half, which ultimately tipped the scales in the Bengals’ favor. Neither quarterback really impressed, each had some nice throws, but Allen showed better poise and decision-making compared to Shurmur, who threw an ugly pick-six. On a good note, the offensive line looked dramatically better than it did last season while protecting these two.
Running Backs
Jacques Patrick: 15 carries, 71 yards | 1 target
Chris Evans: 12 carries, 25 yards, TD | 4 targets, 4 receptions, 33 yards
Samaje Perine: 3 carries, 5 yards, Fumble
Joe Mixon: 1 carry, 3 yards
Joe Mixon had a single carry on the first drive before resting the rest of the game, replaced by Samaje Perine, who looks to have a firm grasp on the backup running back spot even with his fumble. The highlight of this group is going to be the battle for RB3 between rookies Chris Evans (no, not Captain America) and Jacques Patrick. Patrick had some nice runs, including a 24-yard scamper on 3rd-and-short in the 4th quarter which basically iced the game for the Bengals.
Evans made an impact in both the ground and passing game, which makes me believe he will secure (at least) the RB3 role due to his versatility. He even scored his rushing touchdown in goal-line work (credit due to some great work in the trenches):
.@Kidnplay_abc123 at play.
WATCH: https://t.co/LNk37pUiFR pic.twitter.com/myhV5vSuNC
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 15, 2021
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Ja’Marr Chase: 1 target, 1 reception, 16 yards
Tyler Boyd: 2 targets, 1 reception, 15 yards
Tee Higgins: 1 target, 1 reception, 11 yards
Auden Tate: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Trenton Irwin: 5 targets, 3 receptions, 35 yards
Mike Thomas: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 32 yards, Fumble
Stanley Morgan: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards
Thaddeus Moss: 2 targets, 1 reception, 14 yards
Scotty Washington: 1 target, 1 reception, 7 yards
Mason Schreck: 2 targets
Mitchell Wilcox: 2 targets, 2 receptions
The Bengals quarterbacks spread the ball out across the roster, with both new and familiar faces getting targets. The veterans with a secure roster spot, such as Boyd, Higgins, and Tate, all got some work before retreating to the bench for the rest of the game. The rest of the group was, well.. interesting to say the least.
First-round draft pick Ja’Marr Chase was targeted on the first drive on a well-executed screen play for 16 yards. While the play itself wasn’t anything special, it was great to see plays designed specifically for Chase, and it was even better to see him execute that play for an easy first down. In classic pre-season Week 1 fashion, that was his only target.
Welcome to the League, Ja'Marr!
WATCH: https://t.co/LNk37pUiFR pic.twitter.com/5uCzRZ9QF2
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 14, 2021
Michael Thomas lost a fumble but didn’t let that impact the rest of his game. He looked great on a 22 yard screen on the very next drive, and showed impressive concentration later on in the quarter, turning a bobbled interception into a catch:
LMAO pic.twitter.com/awMoYjR8Jh
— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) August 15, 2021
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Quarterback
Tom Brady: 1/2, 9 yards, Sack
Blaine Gabbert: 6/11, 64 yards
Ryan Griffin: 6/11, 47 yards, 2 INT | 1 carry, -1 yards, Sack
Kyle Trask: 4/15, 35 yards, 2 Sack
Tom Brady played a single series, only attempting two passes, completing one to new arrival Giovani Bernard, which is a great sign considering how often Brady used to target his pass-catching backs in New England. Brady was sacked once by Bengals rookie Joseph Ossai who made easy work of Tristan Wirfs, forcing the Buccanneers to punt on Brady’s only drive.
WINcinnati! Enjoy the best plays from our preseason opener against the defending champs.
We're back on Friday in Washington at 8 PM ET on NFL Network. pic.twitter.com/tTaNXAYNtt
— Cincinnati Bengals (@Bengals) August 15, 2021
I’m pretty sure Blaine Gabbert has the backup quarterback role secured, while Kyle Trask will serve as QB3 as he learns the NFL. Could he ask for better teachers?
That leaves our odd man out as Ryan Griffin, who left a lot to be desired after this matchup. The three Griffin-led drives ended in a turnover on downs and two interceptions (only one was his fault, though).
the gang’s all here pic.twitter.com/9J2G0sj4ga
— John Sheeran (@John__Sheeran) August 15, 2021
Running backs
Ke’Shawn Vaughn: 11 carries, 27 yards, TD | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 10 yards
Leonard Fournette: 2 carries, 2 yards
C.J. Prosise: 1 carry, 1 yard | 1 target, 1 yard
Troymaine Pope: 1 carry | 1 target
Ronald Jones II: 1 carry
Giovani Bernard: 0 carries | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 16 yards
Not a lot of question marks in this backfield, as Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones II will split the rushing workload. It should be noted that Fournette got the starting nod. The only relevant change to this backfield group is the addition of Giovani Bernard, who secured both of his targets and should continue to contribute throughout the season as the pass-catching back in Tampa Bay.
Second year running back Ke’Shawn Vaughn had his skillset on display early, bringing in two of three targets and finding the end zone in some goal line work:
Ke'Shawn Vaughn up the gut for 6️⃣
📺: #CINvsTB on WFLA pic.twitter.com/z8m5bQuTgV
— Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) August 15, 2021
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Tanner Hudson: 7 targets, 4 receptions, 48 yards
Jaelon Darden: 6 targets, 2 receptions, 19 yards
O.J. Howard: 1 target, 1 reception, 15 yards
Tyler Johnson: 2 targets, 1 reception, 11 yards
Jaydon Mickens: 3 targets, 1 reception, 10 yards
Scotty Miller: 1 target, 1 reception, 9 yards
Travis Jonsen: 3 targets, 1 reception, 5 yards
Codey McElroy: 2 targets, 1 reception, 2 yards
Antonio Brown: 1 target
The usual headliners for the Buccaneers pass catchers were absent from this matchup, although we did get an Antonio Brown sighting. Again, this group is mostly young guys fighting to make the roster.
Tanner Hudson paced all Buccaneers pass catchers in this sloppy game, but is buried on the depth chart for the time being.
Rookie wideout Jaelon Darden also received an abundance of targets, but was only able to secure two of them as his lack of size was an issue at times.
Tyler Johnson had a ball bounce off of his hands, resulting in a interception (linked below the previous Ryan Griffin INT)
— Ryan Radel (@RadelFF on Twitter)