The biggest news about the Bucs is quarterback Baker Mayfield getting paid, but the team’s Week 1 game is just a couple of days away on Sunday afternoon against the Bengals.

Head coach Todd Bowles answered a few questions about Mayfield’s extension on Wednesday, but he is focused more on preventing Cincinnati’s offense from putting up points and on how Tampa Bay’s defense has made progress.

Todd Bowles Recognizes Challenge Of Stopping Joe Burrow And Ja’Marr Chase

It does not take much in-depth scouting to see where the Bengals are most dangerous.

Even though Cincinnati is not one of the NFL’s top teams, it boasts one of the league’s best offenses, with quarterback Joe Burrow at the helm. When healthy, Burrow has dominated and put up elite numbers with arguably the best one-two punch at wide receiver with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. How does Todd Bowles see the Bucs defense’s first test?

Bengals WR Ja’Marr Chase and QB Joe Burrow – Photo by: IMAGN Images

“[It’s a] big challenge, huge challenge,” Bowles said. “I mean, those guys have been together for a long time in that offense. [Joe] Burrow and [Ja’Marr] Chase have been together since college, so they’ve been doing it for a long time. [They are] very precise, know each other very well – not just those two, but [Tee] Higgins and the rest of the guys as well, [Chase] Brown, the rest of the team, very good chemistry there, very good chemistry there. We’ve just got to line up and be very sound at what we do, and we’ve got to make plays.”

The unit held up in the preseason but is a whole different ballgame as the games matter for real.

In particular, the position group that will have the toughest test are the cornerbacks. Chase is coming off a 125-catch, 1,412-yard season with eight touchdowns, while Higgins added 59 catches for 846 yards and 11 touchdowns. Bowles does not want his secondary to get caught up in their production and be a deer caught in the headlights.

Bucs NCB Jacob Parrish and CB Zyon McCollum – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“Obviously their strengths are the biggest thing, but, you know, Zyon [McCollum] and [Jacob] Parrish have strengths as well,” Bowles said. “It’s easy to talk about them, hard to stop them. That’s what I say every week – easy to talk about them, hard to stop them. We have to play our game. We can’t get so caught up in who they are as opposed to worrying about executing our scheme.”

A big part of Tampa Bay’s defense with Bowles calling plays are the ways he disguises coverage looks and blitz packages. While things have appeared more promising than they did last year with more talent, Burrow is more than capable of thwarting his defensive gameplan.

“He is outstanding at seeing what you’re in. We have to do a heck of a job disguising and not trying to let him see what we’re in, and that’s the cat-and-mouse game of it. Obviously, he’s seen every coverage and every pressure known to man.

“It becomes execution between them and us, so we’ve got to be able to execute whether we disguise or whether we blow our disguise. We’ve still got to be ready to execute. He’s outstanding at it.”

Todd Bowles Sees Something Special Brewing With Bucs Pass Rush

What has had Todd Bowles more optimistic is not just that a new season symbolizes a new start. There is no one that wants to put last season behind him more, and that starts by the Bucs’ defense putting together all of the new pieces.

The area with the most promise is the front seven, where defensive tackle Vita Vea leads a deep defensive line. Even if Vea does not get in on every snap, he makes his presence felt in stopping the run and providing chances for others. Despite missing most of training camp, he is set to play in just a few days.

“He’s ready to go,” Bowles said about Vea’s readiness and potential snap count. “I don’t think he ever plays the full game. We’ll take him out at some point, and we’ll see what the weather is that way and see how long drives go, and we’ll measure it that way.”

At linebacker, Alex Anzalone was named a team captain and the veteran newcomer will play a pivotal role. Second-round pick Josiah Trotter was officially named the starter on the depth chart, and buzz is building about his ability to make an instant impact, too.

Bucs ILB Josiah Trotter – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“He had a heck of a preseason,” Bowles said of Trotter. “He came in and he played ball. Not only just playing ball, he’s very intelligent. He understood the scheme and he rarely made mistakes. When you get that kind of ball player that puts it all together that early, you couldn’t deny him from playing.”

What also can’t be denied is how improved the Bucs outside linebacker group looks compared to last season. Yaya Diaby and Anthony Nelson are the only players who remain that played in games last year, as the room has been upgraded by adding Rueben Bain Jr., Al Quadin-Muhammad, and David Walker. All five pass rushers have looked ready to see meaningful snaps, with Bowles even going as far to recently confirm there will be packages that feature more than just two of them on the field at the same time.

Bucs HC Todd Bowles – Photo by: Cliff Welch/PR

“I feel like I don’t have reserves for the first time. I feel like all five of them can play if need be on first, second down, and third down as well. All of them are good pass rushers in their own right and have special things they do. ‘Mo’ (Al-Quadin Muhammad) has been outstanding, bringing him in. He can do a lot of things for us. Every time you put ‘Nelly’ (Anthony Nelson) in, he makes plays.

“David [Walker] coming on after being out with the knee last year and showing what he can do in the preseason…Obviously, [he needs to] get the scheme down a little bit more, but there’ll be some packages for him this year as well. All three of them can go in and play and you feel comfortable about it.”

Soon comes the first game and first test for the Bucs as they go on the road to take the Bengals. After many months of forecasting comes the first chance to see if there is actual change — and if it can lead to Tampa Bay starting the season 1-0 on Sunday.