Before the first orange towel whips through Paycor Stadium, Tampa Bay will test whether Cincinnati actually fixed its biggest defensive flaw. Do not watch the football at first. Watch the Bengals’ defensive ends. Their initial steps could shape the entire opener.
Cincinnati surrendered 2,500 rushing yards last season. Opponents averaged 5.2 yards per carry, often turning modest gains between the tackles into damaging runs toward the boundary. Poor edge discipline left linebackers chasing from behind and safeties tackling in open space.
Now, Tampa Bay arrives with an offense designed to attack that weakness. New coordinator Zac Robinson has brought more wide-zone concepts to a line anchored by Tristan Wirfs. Behind it, Bucky Irving can stretch a run outside before slicing through an abandoned cutback lane.
Cincinnati no longer has last year’s defensive front. Dexter Lawrence II, Jonathan Allen, and Boye Mafe headline an aggressive overhaul under defensive coordinator Al Golden. The names look impressive, but Week 1 will show whether the run fits do.
Cincinnati Must Address Bengals Edge Containment and Last Season’s Collapse
Cincinnati’s edge rushers stood at the center of last year’s defensive collapse. Too often, one defender chased the back inside while the ball bounced beyond him. On other snaps, the end widened too far and opened an inviting lane underneath.
Those errors placed impossible pressure on the second level. A linebacker expecting the ball inside suddenly had to reverse direction. Meanwhile, the runner reached the sideline with blockers still in front of him.
Three-yard carries became 12-yard gains before Cincinnati found a clean tackling angle. Each breakdown also changed the next call. Instead of facing third-and-8, opponents reached manageable third-and-2 situations with their entire playbook available.
Tampa Bay can exploit that freedom. Mayfield can throw from play-action, keep the ball on a bootleg, or hand it back to Irving. Longer situations would let Golden unleash Cincinnati’s rebuilt pass rush. Holding the boundary gives the Bengals control of the next snap.
Tampa Bay’s Wide Zone Will Test Bengals Edge Containment Sideways
Robinson’s wide-zone scheme forces the defensive front to flow laterally. The running back presses toward the boundary, waits for an overreaction, and then chooses his crease.
Irving excels at that decision. During his 2024 rookie season, Pro Football Reference credited him with 1,122 rushing yards, eight touchdowns, and 5.4 yards per carry. Injuries and offensive instability reduced him to 588 yards at 3.4 per attempt last season.
The old burst remains visible. Irving can plant his outside foot and cut behind an over-pursuing linebacker without losing much speed. Give him daylight, and he reaches the secondary quickly.
That puts Mafe, Myles Murphy, rookie Cashius Howell, and a recovering Shemar Stewart under immediate pressure. Each defender must attack the blocker without surrendering the outside shoulder. If the end crashes inside, Irving can bounce toward the sideline. Widen too quickly, and the cutback opens beneath him. There is little room for error.
Lawrence and Allen Can Strengthen Bengals Edge Containment from Inside
The best way to protect the boundary starts inside. Cincinnati acquired Lawrence after allowing opponents to drive through the heart of its defense.
The three-time Pro Bowler enters the season with 341 career tackles, 40 tackles for loss, and 30.5 sacks. More importantly here, his strength can delay zone combinations. A center and guard may need to stay attached to Lawrence longer than the play design prefers. That hesitation prevents one blocker from climbing cleanly toward the linebacker.
Allen creates a different problem. His first step threatens the space between guard and tackle, forcing the offensive line to tighten its path. His 45.5 career sacks rank eighth among defensive tackles since he entered the league in 2017.
Together, those interior defenders can muddy Irving’s reads. A designed cutback becomes less inviting when Lawrence occupies the middle and Allen penetrates from the opposite side.
That resistance allows Cincinnati’s ends to stay square and funnel the ball toward help. The result may look ordinary: two yards on first down, another short gain on second. Then comes third-and-8.
Irving and Mayfield Test Bengals Edge Containment as Boundary Threats
Tampa Bay can punish Cincinnati even when Irving never receives the handoff. Robinson’s play-action concepts will often show the same initial movement as wide zone. Mayfield can then roll away from the flow with a tight end crossing underneath the linebackers. A deep rotation means nothing if Cincinnati’s ends bite on the fake.
Mayfield presents another rushing threat. He ran for a career-high 382 yards in 2025 and averaged 6.9 yards per attempt. Nearly half his carries produced first downs. Those runs rarely begin as designed keepers. Instead, Mayfield waits for an edge rusher to charge beyond the pocket. Once the escape hatch appears, he tucks the ball and attacks open grass.
If a Bengals defender beats Wirfs but drifts too far upfield, he has not won the snap. He has opened the gate. A controlled rush can funnel Mayfield toward Lawrence and Allen.
Mafe does not need three sacks to influence the game. He may help Cincinnati more by compressing the pocket without surrendering the sideline. The same discipline applies against bootlegs. Defenders must account for Mayfield, Irving, and the releasing receiver until the play declares itself. There will be no easy read.
Better Edge Play Gives Joe Burrow More Control
Every stop creates another possession for Joe Burrow. Cincinnati wants its quarterback operating with rhythm and favorable field position. Long Tampa Bay rushing drives would strip away both while shortening the game.
The Buccaneers produced 1,947 rushing yards on 472 attempts last season. Now, Irving shares the backfield with Kenneth Gainwell, who posted career highs of 537 rushing yards and 73 receptions with Pittsburgh in 2025.
Their contrasting styles will challenge Cincinnati’s linebackers. Irving can press the perimeter before cutting against pursuit. Gainwell can follow the same track, slip into the flat, or punish a linebacker who steps downhill too quickly.
That rotation prevents the Bengals from settling into predictable keys. One false step toward Irving can expose the boundary. A late reaction to Gainwell can create an easy completion with room to run.
Winning early downs would simplify the picture. Golden could unleash Lawrence, Allen, and Mafe against Mayfield while forcing Robinson away from his preferred rhythm.
Burrow would also receive more opportunities. With Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown, Cincinnati can turn those extra possessions into immediate scoreboard pressure.
That pressure could force Tampa Bay to abandon patience. Wide zone loses much of its leverage when the offense must chase touchdowns through the air. One firm edge can change an entire afternoon.
The First Test Will Expose the Real Progress
Cincinnati spent the offseason rebuilding a defense that could no longer survive beside an elite offense. Lawrence transformed the middle. Allen added penetration and experience, while Mafe strengthened the perimeter. Now, every piece must move together.
Watch whether Cincinnati’s ends remain square when Irving presses outside. Then follow the linebackers as they scrape behind Lawrence and Allen. If the front holds its leverage, Tampa Bay will face clogged cutback lanes and longer third downs. Mayfield will lose his escape routes. Burrow will gain more chances to control the game.
One lapse could invite Robinson to attack the same weakness repeatedly. When Tampa Bay stretches the field wide, will Cincinnati bite and fracture? Or will the rebuilt front hold its edge and force the football back inside?
READ MORE: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Cincinnati Bengals: The Blitz Pickup Edge
FAQ’s
Why is edge containment crucial for the Bengals against Tampa Bay?
Tampa Bay uses wide-zone runs to stretch defenders sideways. Proper edge containment stops Bucky Irving from bouncing outside or finding open cutback lanes.
How does Bucky Irving challenge Cincinnati’s defensive front?
Irving presses toward the boundary and cuts back without losing speed. He punishes linebackers who over-pursue or abandon their gap assignments.
What role do Dexter Lawrence and Jonathan Allen play in run defense?
Lawrence and Allen collapse the interior line to disrupt blocking schemes. Their inside pressure allows Cincinnati’s edge rushers to remain square and hold the boundary.
How does strong defense help Joe Burrow and the Bengals offense?
Quick defensive stops give Joe Burrow extra possessions and better field position. Scoreboard pressure forces Tampa Bay to stop running and throw the football.
