Following their 26-23 overtime win last Sunday against Cleveland, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers look to get over .500 with a win at Cincinnati as the team faces their second AFC North opponent in as many weeks. The PewterReport.com staff offers up its predictions in this Bucs at Bengals game preview.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-3) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (4-3)
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1:00 P.M. ET
PAUL BROWN STADIUM (65,515)
NETWORK TELEVISION: FOX
PLAY-BY-PLAY: CHRIS MYERS ANALYST: DARYL JOHNSTON SIDELINE: LAURA OKMIN BUCS RADIO: 98ROCK, FLAGSHIP STATION (WXTB-97.9 FM
PLAY-BY-PLAY: GENE DECKERHOFF ANALYST: DAVE MOORE SIDELINE: T.J. RIVES
LAST GAME: TAMPA BAY WON VS. CLEVELAND, 26-23; CINCINNATI LOST AT KANSAS CITY, 45-10

Publisher and Bucs Beat Writer Scott Reynolds
The Buccaneers played better on defense against the Browns with new defensive coordinator Mark Duffner at the helm. Tampa Bay held Cleveland to 23 points, which was about 10 points less than the Bucs’ season average, which is a good thing. The problem is that Cincinnati’s offense is more potent than Cleveland’s, and is averaging 26.3 points per game. The Bucs offense is averaging 27.8 points per game, which is slightly more. After getting embarrassed on Sunday Night Football with a 45-10 loss at Kansas City, Cincinnati will be looking to bounce back at home.

Can the Bucs slow down wide receiver A.J. Green? Can they corral running back Joe Mixon? Can Tampa Bay pressure quarterback Andy Dalton to the point where he makes more mistakes than Jameis Winston? The turnover margin will decide this game. This will come down to Winston’s ability to take care of the ball and the Bucs defense’s ability to step up and take the ball away, which is something that unit has struggled with all season. Once again, the Bucs defense will need defensive end Carl Nassib and defensive tackle Vita Vea to step up for the injured Vinny Curry and Gerald McCoy, respectively.

I don’t like the matchup of right tackle Demar Dotson and right guard Caleb Benenoch versus Pro Bowl defensive end Carlos Dunlap and Pro Bowl defensive tackle Geno Atkins. You can pencil at least one sack in for each of those guys right now. The Bucs will need to establish the run to prevent the Bengals defensive line from just teeing off on Winston every down. Cincinnati ranks 26th in run defense, allowing 128.7 yards per game, so there could be an opportunity to get Peyton Barber and Ronald Jones II going.

This game reminds me of the Kansas City game back in 2016. It was a tough road win that few saw coming. The Jungle isn’t quite Arrowhead Stadium in terms of a frenzied environment, but this will be a tough road contest the Bucs are capable of winning. With a road game coming up at Carolina next week, the Bucs need to come away with a win or they could slip two games behind .500 again. If Tampa Bay is going to make a playoff push it has to start a winning streak, and those begin with back-to-back wins.

Reynolds’ Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30, Bengals 26
Reynolds’ Pick-To-Click: DE Carl Nassib

Editor and Bucs Beat Writer Mark Cook
Where is the buzz and excitement with this game? Maybe because isn’t a home game, or an NFC South opponent? I don’t know, but there just doesn’t seem to be that vibe from the fans this week. Hopefully that isn’t the case inside the walls at One Buc Place, because this is as big of a game that this team has played so far this season. Win, and the Bucs get back over .500 and they stay right in the thick of the wild card race. Lose, and now they are struggling to keep their heads above water.

I don’t expect this to be a super exciting game. The weather forecast (rain, temperatures in the 50’s) doesn’t bode well for a 500-yard offensive performance from the Bucs, but that’s okay. As long as the defense doesn’t give up 500 yards to Andy Dalton and A.J. Greene.

It goes without saying, the team that protects the football has the best chance to win. When you look at the rosters, this appears to be an evenly matched game. Both teams are missing some key players, but both have talent scattered across the field. And Kwon Alexander wasn’t necessarily having a Pro Bowl season prior to his ACL injury last week, there is no question he was the spark plug and energy for the defense. Who picks up the slack against the Bengals, who will be without linebacker Vontaze Burfict?

I don’t see either team running away with this game. Expect it to be close heading into the fourth quarter and maybe the last team that has the ball wins. Unfortunately, I have no idea where Chandler Catanzaro’s head is after an emotional up-and-down game against the Browns last Sunday, so with that said I give the nod to the Bengals on a late score.

Cook’s Score Prediction: Bengals 27, Buccaneers 24
Cook’s Pick-To-Click: LB Lavonte David

Bucs Beat Reporter Trevor Sikkema
This is an odd game because it carries so much importance for each team, and yet these teams play each other so few that the fans bases seem distant. There isn’t that animosity in the air and it just doesn’t feel as cut-throat of a must-win on this side of things as you would find for say a Saints game or even another NFC game.

Regardless, this game is very important for the Buccaneers. Their 3-3 record gives them a 37 percent chance at the playoffs, as it stands now. If they go to 4-3, that improves to 47 percent, but if they drop to 3-4, their percentage goes all the way down to just 19 percent — and that’s with a road game against Carolina on the horizon.

I do think the Bucs come out victorious, though. I think it will be a good test for the Bucs defense in a lot of ways. For one, it’s away from home, and that is important to see how they play on the road. Bucs cornerback Carlton Davis will likely get a good dose of Bengals All-Pro wide reciever A.J. Green this game. It could be ugly, but it will be good for Davis in the long run. Bengals running back Joe Mixon is one of the best pass catching backs in the NFL, and how Bucs linebacker Lavonte David contains him in the passing game will also be important.

Overall, I think the Bucs tight ends O.J. Howard and Cameron Brate along with receiver Chris Godwin over the middle will take advantage of the Bengals beat up and less-than-ideal linebacker group. I say that’s the difference in the big Bucs win.

Sikkema’s Score Prediction: Buccaneers 30, Bengals 27
Sikkema’s Pick-To-Click: TE O.J. Howard