With most of their projected starters getting the night off, a young Bucs team got the preseason underway on Saturday night with a low-scoring affair. After leading 10-7 for much of the second half, Tampa Bay coughed up the lead late before coming back to beat the Bengals 17-14 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.

While Tampa Bay’s starters – including quarterback Baker Mayfield – were held out of the game, Cincinnati rolled with star quarterback Joe Burrow and the majority of its first-team offense to open the game.

Bucs ILB JJ Russell and Bengals QB Joe Burrow – Photo by: USA Today

A couple of third-down conversions and a defensive pass interference call on a 3rd & 17 kept the Bucs defense on the field for 6:26 to start the game before Burrow beat a blitz and capped off the home team’s 12-play, 73-yard opening drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins.

Burrow gave way to Jake Browning on the Bengals’ second series, and Todd Bowles’ defense responded by forcing a three-and-out.

After opening with a quick three-and-out, Kyle Trask got Tampa Bay’s second drive going with a 24-yard pass on the run to Ryan Miller and a 19-yarder to rookie Jalen McMillan for a first down into Cincinnati territory.

After a near-interception fell incomplete, Trask made the Bengals pay by hitting Trey Palmer for a 21-yard gain on 3rd & 6 to set up 1st & Goal. Two plays later, rookie Bucky Irving fought through the defense for a 5-yard touchdown run. With the PAT, the Bucs evened things up at 7-7 with 1:35 left in the first quarter.

The Bucs defense forced another quick three-and-out ahead of the quarter break, then Trask and the offense picked up a couple of first downs before Josh Newton intercepted Trask at the Cincinnati 33-yard line. But the Tampa Bay defense continued to stifle the Bengals offense, forcing another punt about halfway through the second quarter.

Second-year running back Sean Tucker was heavily featured on the ensuing possession, picking up 17 rushing yards on three carries and another four yards on a first-down catch. That set up a 3rd & 4, which was converted by Rakim Jarrett on an impressive 28-yard catch on a pass from Trask.

Another catch from Jarrett and some more good running from Tucker kept the drive going, but a holding penalty on Brandon Walton negated an impressive Tucker run and killed the drive. A couple of plays later, Chase McLaughlin doinked a 51-yard field goal attempt off the right upright, keeping the game at 7-7.

Bucs CB Keenan Isaac – Photo by: USA Today

Even after taking over with strong field position, the Bengals gave the ball right back to the visitors. Browning looked to air it out deep, only for Keenan Isaac to track the ball down for an interception. Neither offense got much going from there, with the game remaining tied at seven.

The Bengals did just enough – thanks to a late fourth-down conversion in Tampa Bay territory – to set up for their own long field goal attempt as the half came to a close. But Evan McPherson’s 58-yard attempt went wide, keeping it a 7-7 tie heading into halftime.

Third-string quarterback John Wolford entered the game to start the second half for the Bucs, signaling the end of Trask’s night. The fourth-year signal-caller finished 12-of-20 for 144 yards and an interception, having led one touchdown drive.

Wolford stepped right in and engineered a scoring drive, converting a third down with a pass to Ryan Miller early in the third quarter before Sean Tucker broke free for a big 26-yard run. The drive halted due to a second-down sack, but McLaughlin came on to nail a 35-yard field goal to give Tampa Bay a 10-7 lead.

The offenses traded possessions for the rest of the third quarter, with Tampa Bay failing to build on its lead while Cincinnati failed to pick up a first down on either of its two possessions. After getting the ball back with 3:34 left in the third, Wolford and the Bucs offense kept the ball into the fourth quarter.

They then kept their drive going early with a 4th-&-1 conversion from Wolford to tight end Ko Kieft before a 12-yard catch by Cody Thompson and a 19-yarder by Raleigh Webb. But after getting inside the 10, the offense stalled. Tampa Bay went for it on fourth down from the 3, but failed. That kept the game at 10-7 early in the fourth.

The game seemed destined for a drama-free finish until Logan Woodside hit Jermaine Burton for a 37-yard touchdown with 3:33 to go, giving the Bengals a 14-10 lead. The Bucs would have one shot left from there.

Tanner Knue, an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Michigan, looked to take matters into his own hands late in the fourth. He returned the ensuing kickoff 30 yards, then came up with two big catches for 18 and 11 yards. Fellow undrafted free agent Ramon Jefferson, a running back out of Kentucky, then caught an 18-yard pass to the Bengals’ 15 right at the two-minute warning.

It looked like the Bucs were down to their final shot with a 4th & 12, but Knue drew a defensive pass interference call to give the visitors new life. One play later, Jefferson ran for a 3-yard touchdown to give Tampa Bay the lead with 57 seconds to go.

Bucs RB Bucky Irving – Photo by: USA Today

There was some more drama, with Burton hauling in a 38-yard catch to start the next Cincinnati possession. But three straight incompletions set up a 4th & 10, which saw Jay Person track Woodside down before he reached the first-down marker. With that, the Bucs hung on to win 17-14.

Rookie running back Bucky Irving impressed in his limited action, running six times for 28 yards (4.7 avg.) and the Bucs’ lone touchdown. Second-year back Sean Tucker was perhaps the offensive player of the game for Tampa Bay, running 10 times for 68 yards (6.8 avg.) while catching two passes for eight yards. The Bucs had 14 different players catch passes in the game, with Ryan Miller posting three catches for 42 yards to finish as the leading receiver.

The Buccaneer run game was the difference, posting 136 yards on 32 carries (4.6 avg.). That’s an encouraging sign as the offense gets going under new coordinator Liam Coen.

Tampa Bay’s defense held Cincinnati to 288 total yards and a 3-of-11 mark on third downs. J.J. Russell was the team’s leading tackler with seven, while Keenan Isaac came up with the defense’s lone turnover. The pass rush was a disappointment, failing to register a sack on the night.

After a couple of joint practices in Jacksonville this week, the Bucs (1-0) will continue their preseason slate next Saturday night against the Jaguars.