Bengals force 4 turnovers, Burrow throws for TD in 33-27 win over the Buccaneers

CINCINNATI (AP) — Coach Zac Taylor and the Cincinnati Bengals talked all offseason about how their defensive acquisitions would have a huge impact.

They didn’t waste any time.

Cincinnati’s new-look defense forced four turnovers — including its first fumble recovery for a TD since 2022 — in a 33-27 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneerso on Sunday.

“You felt their presence, all of them today,” Taylor said after the Bengals won their opener for the second straight year. “It was fun to watch those guys get in the action and create all those turnovers.”

It was a win where all three phases contributed, something that could rarely be said about the Bengals over the past couple of seasons.

Cincinnati scored 24 points off Tampa Bay’s mistakes. Three were committed by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who signed a $165 million three-year extension earlier in the week.

Two fumbles came while he was sacked and another on a scramble when the Buccaneers were on the verge of scoring.

It is the first time Mayfield has lost an opener in his four seasons with Tampa Bay.

“They upgraded the personnel a lot. They were running on some twists and being consistent. Relentless effort, you know. Like the last one, it’s (me) holding on to the ball too long, but those guys are running around the edge, so it’s relentless effort bringing it,” said Mayfield, who was 23 of 28 passing for 216 yards and also ran for a score.

Joe Burrow passed for 254 yards and a touchdown. After a three-and-out on the opening series, the seventh-year franchise quarterback led the Bengals to points on six of their next seven drives. The only hiccup was a pick-6 by Tampa Bay rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.

“If I didn’t have that interception, I’m feeling great walking out here. Can’t make plays like that, so I got to get that fixed,” said Burrow, who completed 25 of 35 passes.

And Evan McPherson had four field goals, including from 55 yards and 58 yards.

Edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook, both signed in free agency, had big games. Both had forced fumbles and recoveries, and Mafe also had one of Cincinnati’s four sacks.

“It was the second gear that we had, but that was kind of like a statement. I do want to finish a little better as well, but to come out and win like that, it’s a beautiful thing,” Cook said.

Tampa Bay scored on its first possession when Chase McLaughlin made a 34-yard field goal, but the Buccaneers turned it over on their next three possessions. Cincinnati converted all three fumbles into touchdowns.

Mayfield rolled right when Myles Murphy and Barrett Carter sacked him at the Buccaneers 26. Demetrius Knight picked up the loose ball at the 27 and ran up the sideline for his first NFL touchdown.

It was the Bengals’ first scoop-and-score since Sam Hubbard’s 99-yard touchdown in a 2022 wild-card round game against Baltimore. It also marked the third time that the defense has supplied Cincinnati’s first touchdown of the season.

“Somebody swiped my leg, so I’m thinking, ‘Please don’t go down right here.’ Like they say, a lesser athlete would have fallen, but it was an amazing opportunity,” Knight said.

Burrow’s 2-yard TD pass to tight end Mike Gesicki came seven plays after Mafe recovered Bucky Irving’s fumble at the Bucs 33.

Cincinnati extended its lead to 21-3 midway through the second quarter on Chase Brown’s 5-yard run. The Bengals got the ball on their 20 after Cook recovered Mayfield’s fumble in the end zone after Carter stripped the ball out of Mayfield’s hands at the Bengals 4 as the nine-year veteran was trying to stretch for extra yards.

Mayfield’s 9-yard scramble TD pulled the Buccaneers within six with 3:19 remaining, but Cincinnati ran out the clock. Burrow’s 18-yard completion to Tee Higgins to the Bucs 26 on second-and-10 put it out of reach.

“We came out with more of an aggressive mindset. Credit to our guys for understanding how we wanted to run the clock there, while still getting maximum yardage,” Taylor said.

Trotter became the first player with a sack and pick-6 in his first game since sacks became an official statistic in 1982.

Both plays came in the third quarter. The second-round pick brought down Burrow for a 9-yard loss before jumping the route on a pass intended for Andrei Iosivas and ran it back 38 yards to get the Buccaneers within 27-20 with 2:16 remaining in the quarter.

“Good play on his part. It’s a play he blew from practice. He learned from it and made a play from there,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said.

McPherson had second-half field goals from 55 and 58 yards. He is the first kicker in Bengals history to have two from at least 55 yards in a game. It is the fourth time in league history this has happened in Week 1.

Buccaneers: CB Jacob Parrish tweaked his back during the second quarter and did not return. Bowles said Parrish will undergo an MRI.

Buccaneers: host Cleveland next Sunday.

Bengals: at Houston next Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (5) catches a pass as he is defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum (27) in the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase, right, can't hang onto a pass as he is defended by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Jacob Parrish (25) in the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) runs for a touchdown after recovering a fumble in the first half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) fumbles as he is hit in the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel)

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — The governing body of Premier League referees admitted an “error of judgment” after Erling Haaland’s hotly contested goal settled the 199th Manchester derby on Sunday.

That will be of little comfort to Manchester United after a 1-0 defeat to 10-man Manchester City at Old Trafford.

United was enraged after VAR awarded Haaland his winning strike in the 60th minute.

At first, the goal was ruled out for offside, but after VAR review the onfield decision was overturned, sparking a roar of celebration from the away fans, including Oasis' Noel Gallagher.

United's players were incensed because City midfielder Enzo Fernandez was in an offside position during the buildup. The Premier League said the goal was allowed because, despite diving to head the ball, the Argentine did not get a touch before it reached Haaland at the far post.

However, soccer rules state a player is interfering with play when “clearly attempting to play a ball" or “challenging an opponent for the ball.”

The refereeing body that oversees Premier League matches, Pro Ref, said Sunday evening that the VAR “did not recognize the likely impact” of Fernandez’s position and “should have recommended an onfield review.”

Pro Ref said it had made contact with United to acknowledge an “error of judgment” relating to the winning goal.

United defender Lisandro Martinez, who was challenging Fernandez, had called the goal an “injustice” and coach Michael Carrick was also perplexed.

“I just don't get it, I really don't get it,” he said. “It’s worrying, it really is if that’s how the game is seen by those who are officiating."

Asked at the time if he thought he would get a better explanation from the referee's governing body or even an apology, Carrick said, “I look forward to that.”

While acknowledgement of the error came soon afterward, it was too late to prevent United falling to a second defeat of the season after four games.

City's fans may have felt justice was done after Phil Foden was sent off in the 23rd for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes.

Foden and City's players remonstrated on the field and coach Enzo Maresca said Fernandes should also have been shown a red for the altercation.

With an extra man United hit the post either side of halftime - first from Marcus Rashford's long-range free kick and then Kobbie Mainoo's low shot from the edge of the area.

It was Maresca's first derby since taking over from Pep Guardiola at the end of last season and victory extended City's 100% start to the season. City moved level on points with defending champion Arsenal at the top of the standings.

“The red card changed the plan of the game, but credit to the players and their effort, spirit and togetherness was brilliant,” Maresca said. “It is already an abnormal situation when you are able to win a game with 10 players. It is fantastic. Then this game is a derby so it is even better.”

United is 13th in the standings with just one win from four games.

Carrick's team plays Brighton in the English League Cup on Wednesday, having been knocked out of the competition at the earliest stage against fourth division Grimsby last season. United plays winless Fulham next weekend before the international break.

“We haven’t got as many points as we would have liked at this point, for sure. There’s no getting away from that. But we don’t need a break or a restart. We’ve just got to move on and get winning again,” Carrick said.

Haaland's goal makes him the outright top scorer in the Manchester derby in the Premier League with nine.

He moved ahead of Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero, both on eight.

He has reached that total in eight games, compared to Rooney's 21 appearances and Aguero's 13.

It was Haaland's sixth goal of the season in all competitions.

“You can see he’s happy, not only today, even day by day in the training sessions,” Maresca said. "As much as we keep Erling happy, we are all happy. How do you say in English, ‘happy wife, happy life?’

“Happy Erling, happy life.”

City extended its record as the team to have won more games against United at Old Trafford in the Premier League than any other opponent, with 10 victories.

Liverpool is second with eight wins. Arsenal and Chelsea have six.

Coventry's nightmare start to the season continued with a 5-0 home loss to Brighton.

After running away at the top of the Championship last season it has been a rude awakening for Frank Lampard's team since its return to England's top flight.

Four straight defeats leaves Coventry rooted to the foot of the standings without a goal and a goal difference of minus 10.

Brighton led 1-0 at halftime through Charalampos Kostoulas before going on a scoring spree after the break with goals from Malick Yalcouye, Pascal Gross, Lewis Dunk and Yasin Ayari.

James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, left, Manchester City's goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City's Ruben Dias celebrate after the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Manchester City supporter Noel Gallagher in the waits stands after the English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick walks on the pitch at the end of the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland celebrates after scoring his sides first goal during the English Premier League soccer match against Manchester United in Manchester, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Peter Byrne/PA via AP)

Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez, left, kicks the ball past Manchester United's Lisandro Martinez, right, during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo kicks the ball during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Manchester City's Erling Haaland, right, challenges for the ball with Manchester United's Kobbie Mainoo during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Manchester City in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Ian Hodgson)

Coventry City's Jay Dasilva, centre right, and teammates applaud to fans after the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard, centre right, reacts during the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)

Brighton and Hove Albion's Malick Yalcouye, left, celebrates with Pascal Gross after scoring their side's second goal of the game during the English Premier League soccer match between Coventry City and Brighton and Hove Albion in Coventry, England, Sunday Sept. 13, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)