# Three things that could sink the Bucs in Cincinnati > Tampa Bay opens 2026 on the road against Joe Burrow, and three soft spots could decide the day. - Title: Three things that could sink the Bucs in Cincinnati | Shortify - Summary: Tampa Bay opens 2026 on the road against Joe Burrow, and three soft spots could decide the day. The Bucs' upgrades are real, but a young secondary, a brand… - Keywords: nfl, buccaneers, bengals, week 1, secondary, sports, Three, things, sink, Bucs, Cincinnati, Tampa Bay Buccaneers On SI - Source: Tampa Bay Buccaneers On SI — https://si.com/nfl/buccaneers/onsi/3-reasons-for-buccaneers-skepticism-in-week-1-vs-bengals-can-this-secondary-handle-the-task-2026 - Published: 2026-09-12T16:29:43+00:00 - Read time: 3 min - Topics: nfl, buccaneers, bengals, week 1, secondary, sports ## A hard opener in Cincinnati Tampa Bay starts 2026 on the road against the Bengals, kickoff at 1 p.m. Sunday. It is about as unfriendly a Week 1 draw as the schedule could hand them. > The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a tough task ahead of them on Sunday. ## The defense got rebuilt Tampa Bay added linebacker Alex Anzalone, edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. and defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson this offseason, all meant to lift a unit that needed help. ## Offense has reinforcements too Kenny Gainwell joins the backfield behind Bucky Irving, and the full starting offensive line is healthy together for the first time in two years. ## But the worries are real Hostile road crowd, a talented opponent and three specific soft spots. Optimism about the roster does not erase what Cincinnati can expose in one afternoon. ## Reason one: the corners Tampa Bay's secondary could not ask for a nastier first exam than the one waiting in Cincinnati. > It's hard to argue Tampa Bay's secondary could get a better test in Week 1. ## Three corners, little mileage Zyon McCollum, Jacob Parrish and rotational outside corner Benjamin Morrison make up the room. McCollum is the old man at 27 with five full seasons; the other two have one apiece. ## Chase and Higgins wait Ja'Marr Chase is a two-time first-team All-Pro and among the league's best. Tee Higgins has 21 touchdowns across the last two seasons in only 27 games. > The Bengals boast one of the best wideout duos in the league. ## Parrish moves outside Parrish played nickel last year and now takes outside corner full time for the first time in his NFL career. Week 1 is a brutal place to learn the job. ## McCollum needs a bounce-back McCollum faded badly over the back half of 2026 and is trying to reset. The Bengals will find out quickly whether he has. ## The safeties are unsettled Antoine Winfield Jr. has not put together a truly productive season since 2023, and Tykee Smith is only in his second year at safety. ## Burrow will find them An elite quarterback gets the ball to elite receivers. The question is whether a young, inexperienced back end can survive that combination for four quarters. > Quarterback Joe Burrow is elite, and he will get the ball to his wideouts. ## Reason two: a new play caller Zac Robinson arrives from Atlanta as offensive coordinator. Tampa Bay likes his offense, but installing it and running it cleanly in September are different things. ## Wide zone, again Robinson wants more wide zone in 2026, stretching defenses toward the sideline so backs can cut back through the holes it opens. ## They tried this before Liam Coen went zone-heavy in 2024 and it flopped. Switching to a gap scheme turned Tampa Bay into one of the NFL's best running teams. Now the line goes back to what it struggled with. ## Formation questions open Robinson leaned on the pistol in Atlanta, but the Bucs have shown plenty of under-center looks. Whether he goes 12 and 13 personnel or rides Cade Otton in 11 is still unknown. ## Reason three: no margin behind the starters Only three safeties sit on the roster, so an injury to Winfield or Smith hurts fast. Offensive line depth drew heavy criticism in preseason, and tackle Justin Skule is doubtful for Sunday. ## One injury could decide it The depth problem lasts all year, but Cincinnati is good enough to punish it immediately. Losing a starter Sunday means a backup who may be a liability. > Cincinnati is a good team that will likely make Tampa Bay pay in Week 1. ## Key takeaway The Bucs' upgrades are real, but a young secondary, a brand new offensive scheme and thin depth all get tested at once in Week 1.