We made it.

The Cincinnati Bengals played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their first of three preseason games on Saturday night. They didn’t win, and it didn’t matter.

We got our first and probably only look at Joe Burrow during the preseason. We saw Tee Higgins do what Higgins does. We saw Dax Hill at cornerback. We saw some young guys do good things and we saw some veterans do bad things.

Here are some things I noticed:

• Rookie wide receiver Jermaine Burton did not disappoint in his NFL debut. He finished the game with 3 catches for 82 yards and a touchdown. It’s not the stats, though. It’s the fact that he caught every pass he was targeted for. It’s the fact that he showed his ability to break away and show off his route-running skills. He’s not Ja’Marr Chase. He’s not Tee Higgins. But I’m excited about the future of the wide receiver position, even without Higgins.
• Another freshman had a great debut. Cornerback Josh Newton, drafted in the fifth round out of TCU, also performed well and even made his first NFL interception. He has looked good in practice and now that he has some game experience under his belt, he could prove to be a great addition to Lou Anarumo’s secondary. A few weeks ago, I would have told you that I wanted the Bengals to sign a talented, experienced cornerback. Now, I don’t think that’s necessary.
• The Bengals’ first team offense, led by Burrow, looked very good on its only offensive play. Burrow methodically marched the offense down the field and capped the play with a short pass to Higgins for a touchdown. They weren’t playing against a starting defense, and it looked like it. They didn’t have to hang around any longer. The offense looks like it could start the season fast. Finally.
• We didn’t see Trey Hendrickson or Sam Hubbard, but we did get a good dose of Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai. Murphy impressed with two hits and a rush. Rookie edge rusher Cedric Johnson was also responsible for a sack. With Cam Sample on the injured list, the team absolutely NEEDS Joseph Ossai to reach his potential.
• If there was one backup offensive lineman who needed to show he had what it takes to make the 53-man roster, it was Jackson Carman, and he played as poorly as he could. He was personally responsible for FOUR penalties (three holdings and a false start). He has experience at guard and tackle as a starter in some big games, but he’s had more trouble than not. The Bengals have five good starters and Amarius Mims. They need Carman less than he needs them. The former second-round pick had better hurry up and get going.
• Third-string quarterback Logan Woodside outperformed backup Jake Browning on Saturday night, but that’s not really a bad thing for anyone. Browning WILL be Joe Burrow’s backup. We saw what happened when Burrow was out in 2023. I truly believe Browning is one of the 32 best quarterbacks in the NFL. He just happens to play on a team with a top-three quarterback. But good for Woodside. The more experience he has, the better his chances of landing somewhere, even if it’s on a practice squad.
• This team is loaded with talented wide receivers. There is competition for the WR3 behind Ja’Marr Chase and Higgins, but there are so many qualified guys. Burton showed on Saturday that he definitely has it, Trenton Irwin has consistently put on big performances, and Andrei Iosivas has flashed and is looking to make the jump. Charlie Jones has also had a solid training camp. Why not a WR3 by committee?
• There are some questions about what the Bengals will do in terms of a fourth running back. They have Zack Moss and Chase Brown who will make the team, and Trayveon Williams who will probably make the team. Who’s next? Chris Evans? Just so he can sit on the bench? Elijah Collins has looked OK, especially as a pass blocker, something Evans struggles with. Will they keep him? Will they sign a free agent? Will they go with three players?
• The defense will be improved in 2024, especially the secondary and the pass rush. I’m concerned about the defense’s ability to stop the run. The plan to beat the Bengals is to run the ball and keep Burrow, Chase, Higgins, etc. on the sidelines. If the Bengals can’t stop the run, it will have a ripple effect that hurts the entire team. The Bengals defense lines up Derrick Henry, Nick Chubb, and Najee Harris a total of six times. The easiest way to get into the playoffs is to win the division, and the Bengals will have an uphill battle if they can’t stop the Browns, Steelers, and Ravens from running the ball.
• Brad Robbins and Ryan Rehkow both had good punts on Saturday, and Robbins had a bad one. This is an overlooked but important position battle. A good punt can completely change the outcome of a game. The same goes for a bad punt (see 2022 AFC Championship).
• Another little thing to watch out for in the punter battle is the holder. Evan McPherson missed a 58-yard field goal attempt just before halftime. I’m not saying it was the holder’s fault, BUT the holder was Rehkow. That probably doesn’t mean much, but it’s worth mentioning.
• I understand it’s preparation. It doesn’t matter if the Bengals won this game or not. Experience and getting off the field injury-free is key. Zac Taylor decided to go for it on fourth-and-10 from the Bucs 24-yard line instead of kicking a field goal with just seconds left that could have tied the game. The field goal gives the Bengals’ young players some overtime experience, McPherson can redeem himself for his earlier miss, and the coaching staff can get a closer look at some young players. The fact that Taylor went for the win showed his players that he cares more about their health than winning a preseason game. I’m sure they appreciate that.
• I approach anything new and unknown like a caveman – by hitting it with a big stick and asking questions later. I didn’t like the new kickoff format. I understand it’s safer, but it just looks weird. I’ll get used to it, but my first reaction is negative. I guess it’s here to stay.

Here are guys whose stocks increased after the 1st week of the preseason:

• Jermaine Burton
• Matt Lee
• Elijah Collins
• Eric Miller
• Travis Bell
• Shaka Heyward
• Maema Njongmeta
• Cody Ford
• Dax Hill

Here are guys whose stocks reduced after the 1st week of the preseason:

• Jackson Carman
• Trey Hill
• Chris Evans
• Zach Carter
• Allan George
• Joshua Pryor
• Lance Robinson

That was a great start to the preseason. We got what we wanted out of the starters for the short time they were on the field. We got some good play from guys we’d like to see as rotation players, both offensively and defensively. And, on the bright side, we saw there are still a few areas of need.

I know what I’ll be watching for Saturday when the Bengals play the Bears in Chicago.

Relevant lyrics:

Back in black
I went to bed
I’ve been away too long, I’m glad to be back
Yes, I am released
Out of the noose
That kept me on tenterhooks
I looked up at the sky
Because it gets me high
Forget the hearse, because I’ll never die
I have nine lives
Cat eyes
Abuse each of them and run wild

Who are you?