The Bengals Have 3 HUGE Things To Prove In Week 1...

The Cincinnati Bengals are finally entering Week 1, and after months of offseason moves, training camp practices and preseason games, we are finally going to get a chance to see what this team actually looks like when the games count. John Sheeran breaks down the three biggest things he will be watching for when the Bengals take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The first is Joe Burrow and the Bengals' offensive approach. Cincinnati has spent the offseason trying to diversify its offense, and John wants to see how often Burrow operates under center against Tampa Bay. The Bengals have traditionally relied heavily on shotgun formations, but there are reasons to believe they could lean more on an under-center run game this season. That could mean more opportunities for Chase Brown and the Bengals' rushing attack, while also creating play-action opportunities and forcing Tampa Bay's defense to respect the run. More importantly, establishing a legitimate run threat could help Cincinnati protect Burrow. The Bengals have frequently left Burrow in shotgun and relied on him to get the football out quickly, but forcing the defense to account for the run could slow down the pass rush and give the offensive line some additional help. The second major storyline is Dexter Lawrence. The Bengals spent the offseason completely reshaping their defensive line, and Lawrence was one of the biggest additions. He was arguably the MVP of Cincinnati's training camp, consistently creating problems for the offensive line and even earning praise from Ted Karras for the intensity he brought to practice. Now it's time to see that production in a real game. Tampa Bay has an elite left tackle in Tristan Wirfs, but John believes the Buccaneers' interior offensive line is a potential weakness. Graham Barton, Ben Bredeson and Cody Mauch are all capable players individually, but Cincinnati has an opportunity to attack that group with Lawrence and B.J. Hill. John believes Lawrence needs to make an immediate impact in his Bengals debut. The third thing to watch may ultimately be the most important: Can Cincinnati close the game? The Bengals have spent much of training camp focusing on situational offense and learning how to finish games. That means protecting leads, controlling the clock and making the right decisions when the game reaches its most important moments. That pressure won't fall entirely on Joe Burrow. John also puts the spotlight on Zac Taylor and his decision-making in high-leverage situations. The Bengals have had their share of struggles closing games in recent seasons, and Week 1 could provide an immediate test. The Bengals don't need to be perfect Sunday. But they do need to show that the changes they made this offseason are starting to translate onto the field. Can Cincinnati establish the run? Can Joe Burrow operate from under center more effectively? Can Dexter Lawrence dominate Tampa Bay's interior offensive line? And when the game reaches the fourth quarter, can the Bengals make the plays necessary to win? John Sheeran breaks down the three things he's watching most closely in the Bengals' Week 1 matchup against the Buccaneers. Subscribe to A to Z Sports Cincinnati for Bengals news, game previews, postgame reactions, injury updates, roster analysis and everything you need throughout the 2026 NFL season. #Bengals #CincinnatiBengals #WhoDey #NFL 0:00 Bengals Week 1 is finally here 1:34 The 3 things John is watching 2:17 #1 How often does Burrow go under center? 4:35 #2 Dexter Lawrence MUST make an impact 5:58 Can the Bengals make Tampa one-dimensional? 6:26 #3 Can Cincinnati close the game? 7:02 The pressure on Zac Taylor 7:47 Final Bengals-Bucs prediction 8:11 Week 1 is finally here Play A to Z Sports Daily Games: https://atozsports.com/games For more Bengals coverage: https://atozsports.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals-news/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BengalsFans4Life Twitter/X: https://x.com/AtoZSportsNFL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atozsportsbengals/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@atozsportsbengals #CincinnatiBengals #Bengals #BengalsFootball #WhoDey #NFL #NFLFootball