The Bengals

The strength of this team is clearly in their offensive skill groups.  QB Burrow will be throwing to a very talented group of WRs, TEs and RBs.  It will come down to if the Bucs front seven can overcome a very mammoth OL group.  Orlando Brown Jr and Amarius Mim are big, big tackles.  Diaby and Bain usually use power rushes but may need to change things up to overcome them with some spins and inside moves.

The interior Bengals OL is around league average these days in terms of relative size.  This is where Kancey, Robinson and Vea need to make their mark along with a deeper DL rotation of Roberts, Capheart, Simmons and Roches.

Bowles made it a a clear objective to stop the run or be better at it this off season. Trotter Jr and Anzalone are bigger LBs and they will be challenged by Chase Brown, Perine and Brooks so the emphasis on stopping the Bengals WR trio is important too.  But the reality is that this game will come down to if the Bucs can control the LOS defensively and stop the run. 

Sample, Gesicki, Chase, Higgins and Iosavas are going to test the Bucs young secondary constantly and relentlessly. Parrish, Morrison, Garnes and Scott need to on point because any pass can become a big play with these opponents.  Winfield Jr is the veteran in the secondary now and has to take clear command along with Smith to rotate everyone correctly.

Defensively the Bengals went all out to improve a defensive front that needed and overhaul.  

They traded for Dexter Lawrence to man the middle and give them a chance of slowing down rushing attacks.  Allen and Mafe are also in the mix to help stop the run but also generate pressure against the passsing game.   They drafted Casius Howell as a reserve to rotate in so Wirfs and Goedeke will be tested along with the Bucs interior of Bredeson, Barton and Mauch. 

Bengals secondary is a little more seasoned than the Bucs but this is where the Bucs WRs can overwhelm them. Bucs are so deep at WR that the Bengals run out of players to defend them all.  Mayfield if given time is going to make them pay through the air.  But that Bucs OL has to hold up against Mafe, Allen and Lawrence from collapsing that pocket.