Tampa Bay and Cincinnati open the season with a milestone in reach. Baker Mayfield is three passing touchdowns away from 200 for his career, a mark only 52 players in NFL history have hit, and just nine of them are still active.

Cincinnati can match that firepower on its own side of the ball. The Bengals scored 36 receiving touchdowns in 2025, the second most in the NFL, a number that raises the stakes for what could turn into a shootout.

Below, we'll give you all the details you need to know about how to watch this game.

How to Watch Buccaneers vs. Bengals

• When: Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. ET

• Where: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH

• TV: FOX

• Stream: Watch 3 days free on FOX One

Tampa BayBuccaneers

CincinnatiBengals

CIN -3.5 TOTAL 50.5

Players to Watch

Joe Burrow

Bengals

Cincinnati opens this matchup with its quarterback at the center of everything, especially against a Tampa Bay team that ranked 24th in third down percentage entering Week 1. That matters because Burrow is the player most likely to turn sustained drives into a real edge for the Bengals.

He is also one of the biggest names in this game, and the attention around him has only grown this week. Burrow was highlighted among the league's upper tier quarterbacks heading into Week 1, and his passing yardage line for this matchup sits at 265.5. In a game where Cincinnati will want control of tempo and possession, his command on money downs could shape the whole afternoon.

Ja'Marr Chase

Bengals

With Cincinnati monitoring the health of its top receivers, Chase stands out because he returned to practice Monday after dealing with a hyperextended left knee. He was back in uniform, which keeps him firmly in focus for this matchup as a projected featured target if he is cleared for full game action.

The matchup angle is simple. Few players can tilt coverage the way Chase can, and Tampa Bay comes in with its own questions around availability at several spots. His receiving yardage line is 85.5 for this game, and his anytime touchdown probability was listed at 50.5 percent. If he looks like himself early, Cincinnati's passing game can stretch the field and force the Buccaneers to defend every blade of grass.

Baker Mayfield

Buccaneers

For Tampa Bay, this game starts with Mayfield's ability to answer Cincinnati score for score. The Buccaneers just committed to him with a 3 year, $165 million extension, a clear sign that he remains the engine of their offense heading into this opener.

His recent body of work in Tampa gives that decision weight. Over his first 3 seasons with the Buccaneers, Mayfield averaged 31.6 touchdown passes per season and led the team to 2 playoff appearances. He also enters this matchup with a passing yardage line of 229.5. Against a Bengals team that ranked 6th in third down percentage, Tampa Bay needs Mayfield to keep drives alive and avoid putting the game entirely on the defense.

Emeka Egbuka

Buccaneers

One of the more interesting swing factors here is whether Tampa Bay can get enough from its secondary receiving options, and Egbuka fits that conversation. He was participating in warmups and running routes Monday while working back from a toe issue, which points to him being available or close to it for this opener.

That makes him worth tracking against a Cincinnati defense with several question marks on its own injury report. Egbuka's receiving yardage line is 54.5, a notable number for a player whose role could expand quickly if he is moving well. If he gives Mayfield a reliable target beyond the obvious names, Tampa Bay's passing game becomes much harder to squeeze.

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/how-to-watch-tampa-bay-buccaneers-vs-cincinnati-bengals-tv-channel-live-stream-september-13-2026

ByMatt Fitzgerald|Sep 14, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase (1) walks for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 1 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026.

You would think that if Ja'Marr Chase ever put up only two catches for 12 yards in Week 1, in just about any other scenario, the Cincinnati Bengals were blown off the field. That's especially so given their history of early-season struggles.

And yet, that's not what happened at all on Sunday. Joe Burrow gifted the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a pick-six, couldn't find Chase often, and Cincinnati still prevailed 33-27 thanks to a stellar defensive effort that yielded only 20 points when you take out the Bucs' defensive TD.

Chase's quiet afternoon (and probable worst game of the 2026 campaign) was actually the biggest silver lining of all the positive subplots that emerged from Week 1.

Yes, the defense was awesome, but to be honest, I expected it to be. It was more like, "They better be good" after all the resources spent to upgrade that side of the ball. What I couldn't have imagined was for Chase to be held in check so well...and for Cincinnati to still emerge victorious.

Ja'Marr's lackluster season opener opened up room for Mike Gesicki (and others) to shine

Tight end Mike Gesicki's stat line of five catches, 78 yards, and a TD was all made psosible by the attention Ja'Marr Chase attracted. OK sure, Tee Higgins deserves some credit on that front, but Tampa Bay played the dynamic Chase-Higgins duo quite well.

Higgins (three catches, 59 yards) did get singled up on certain plays, and he and Burrow capitalized for some explosive gains through the air.

Still, Burrow often had to resort to checkdowns. Chase Brown and Samaje Perine combined for eight receptions out of the backfield. Even my nemesis, "blocking specialist" tight end Drew Sample, had three catches for 19 yards.

Nine different Bengals had at least one catch in Week 1. That's a testament to Burrow's high football IQ and getting it to the open man. Many of the opportunities for others were created by the gravity Chase draws in coverage from the opposition.

Chase's performance is quite the outlier, dare I say. And it'll be rectified very soon.

Counterintuitively, Chase has a great chance to rally vs. Texans' vaunted defense in Week 2

You'd think that facing such a venerated defense as the Houston Texans on the road would be bad news for Ja'Marr Chase and his fantasy football owners. Not so much.

The Texans like to run what they run and dare you to out-execute them. That didn't work so well against Josh Allen and the Bills in their season opener, yet they can get away with that against pretty much anyone else, Cincinnati included.

...At least to some extent. See, Houston has Chase's ex-LSU teammate, Derek Stingley Jr., who they trust enough to mark up Ja'Marr one-on-one. That falsity of confidence is just what Chase needs to get loose in Week 2.

I refuse to overreact to how bad Houston looked versus Buffalo and say the defense is for sure on the decline. Nevertheless, there can't help but be some carry-over from that shock.

Plus, as good as Allen is, Burrow ain't some slouch. And thanks to a rather smooth transition to mroe under-center plays from the Bengals offense, Chase Brown should be able to find more running lanes against the Texans, who don't have some run-stopping dynamo in the middle of their defensive line like the Bucs have in Vita Vea.

What will that lead to? Less predictability and obvious dropback situations from Cincinnati. More effective play-action passing. More chances for Chase to rip off massive gains and earn a higher target share volume on schemed-up, designed plays to get him back on track.

https://stripehype.com/why-jamarr-chase-dud-performance-was-bengals-biggest-positive-from-week-1

0:27

Joe Burrow connects with Mike Gesicki for a Bengals TD

ByAP

Sep 13, 2026, 03:34 pm

CINCINNATI -- — The Bengals' new-look defense forced four turnovers — including its first fumble recovery for a TD since 2022 — Joe Burrowpassed for 254 yards and a touchdown and Cincinnati defeated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers33-27 Sunday.

Evan McPherson had three field goals, including from 55 yards and 58 yards, as the Bengals won their opener for the second straight year.

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

Burrow completed 25 of 35 passes.

After a three-and-out on the opening series, the seventh-year franchise quarterback directed 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.

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.

Mayfield was 23 of 28 passing for 216 yards. Two of the fumbles came while he was sacked and another on a scramble when the Buccaneers were on the verge of scoring.

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.

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

Bucs' early fumbles play critical role

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 he was sacked by Myles Murphy and Barrett Carter at the Buccaneers 26. Demetrius Knight picked up the loose ball at the 27 and went 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 Cincinnati's first touchdown of the season has been supplied by the defense.

Burrow's 2-yard TD pass to tight end Mike Gesicki came seven plays after Boye 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 linebacker 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.

Trotter's impressive debut

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.

Injuries

Buccaneers: CB Jacob Parrish tweaked his back during the second quarter and did not return.

Up next

Buccaneers: Host Cleveland next Sunday.

Bengals: At Houston next Sunday

ESPN.

I thought it would be cool to have a thread that showcases Bengals stuff that our members have (for example, SheBengal's Christmas ornaments). I also thought that maybe this thread could sort of become a way to show everyone their new Bengals swag and even find cool deals or collectibles online.

Game Details

• Date: Sunday, September 13, 2026

• Time: 1:00 PM ET (10:00 AM PT / local venue time)

• Location: Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

• TV/Streaming: FOX

Betting Odds & Outlook

• Spread: Cincinnati is a 3.5-point favorite

• Moneyline: Bengals -200, Buccaneers +165

• Over/Under: 50.5 points

You can check live updates and betting details directly via ESPN.

Matchup & Team Notes

• All-Time Series: Tampa Bay holds a narrow 7-6 edge over Cincinnati in overall head-to-head history, though the Bengals have won the last three meetings.

• The Quarterbacks: Baker Mayfield leads the Buccaneers against Joe Burrow and the Bengals.

• Key Context: The Bengals enter as home favorites with an explosive offense featuring Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, while the Buccaneers look to start strong under new offensive coordination and a retooled defensive front.

https://www.nfl.com/videos/buccaneers-vs-bengals-preview-week-1

https://webchat.hybridirc.com/

Usual suspects meetup at halftime?

Anyone else going who wants to meetup?

Outside section 104/106 near that bar is the usual spot if so.

Pat Brennan

Cincinnati Enquirer

Sept. 9, 2026, 8:13 p.m. ET

• The Bengals are confident in their linebacking corps as they prepare for the season opener against Tampa Bay on Sept. 13.

• Second-year linebackers Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. were thrown into the mix as rookies and struggled.

• Defensive coordinator Al Golden said Carter and Knight are much improved after having gone through last season.

Eventually, all the platitudes and happy that color the NFL's preseason give way to reality and hard truths. That's where the Cincinnati Bengals are with their linebackers.

By now, you've probably heard some version of the preseason patter around the Bengals defense − that it's improved, that there are waves of rushers, it has more talent, more depth and players better-suited for leadership roles compared to the defense of a year ago.

To Cincinnati's credit, the front office spared little expense during the offseason in order to upgrade its defensive personnel. The publicly available sample size is small, and the defense might still have some holes based on the joint practice against the Chicago Bears. Many experts still anticipate these talking points will bear out once the 2026 season kicks off Sept. 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

But the one outstanding question looming over the defense is the linebacker position, where the Bengals aren't buoyed by a big-name veteran or a major free-agent upgrade. That makes it an outlier on the roster and a great unknown as two second-year players in Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. are being entrusted with starting roles.

From Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin to head coach Zac Taylor and defensive coordinator Al Golden, the decision to stand behind Carter and Knight as starters has been explained and rationalized, but that talk can only carry the organization through to the 1 p.m. kickoff Sept. 13 at Paycor Stadium. That's when the season begins and when the truth about the team's linebacking duo will be revealed.

Whether or not they can produce better results than they did during their rookie season in 2025 could dictate how high the ceiling is for a team that speaks openly about chasing a championship.

"Really excited about both of them. They're in the upper echelon of all rep-getters (in training camp), and they needed that," Golden said. "I've said it to you guys multiple times: I think they are playing with confidence. They're able to run it at the line of scrimmage, whether it's stunt adjustments, checks, whatever the case may be. They've done a really good job, and I'm just excited to watch them go play, just go have fun and play with energy and let it loose."

Golden speaks of his confidence in Carter and Knight. Carter and Knight project confidence, too. The two players are drawing on the experience of their baptism-by-fire 2025 campaigns, plus this past offseason and training camp.

In the modern NFL, the preseason doesn't necessarily mean ample opportunities for projected starters, especially in preseason games.

"If you’re worried about preseason games, that’s not totally fair," Knight said. "If people are watching preseason games — full-speed action is Day 1 of OTAs, Day 1 of training camp. Our offense isn’t just running plays for us to make stops. They’re scheming us. We’re scheming them. We’re sharpening iron week after week after week. … I believe it was great work. It felt like game situations, pretty much. 

"This whole camp and OTAs has been game-like situations. We’re banging left and right. Fights here, left and right. You’re not gonna fight if you’re not truly getting reps, so I would say camp and OTAs got us ready."

Carter and Knight have also kept the 2025 season in mind, even while that's a painful exercise at times. Carter said he hated to still call upon that experience in explaining his present-day rationale.

The two players ended up as companion pieces in the story of the 2025 Bengals. Their play, and the decision to draft both of them in the 2025 NFL Draft, became a case study for critics as they analyzed the organization's personnel decision-makers.

Carter contended the 2025 season spurred growth in both players by the time they were back at Paycor Stadium in the spring for organized team activities (OTAs). Like the 2025 season itself, the journey through OTAs, periodic offseason downtime and training camp was one they made in lockstep.

It's still just preseason talk, but Carter said he and Knight were confident the team's faith in them would be rewarded.

"We’ve been through the fire. We’ve seen the worst of the worst, and we know what the bottom feels like," Carter said. "When you know what the bottom feels like, the only way to go is up. We went to work in the offseason. We made sure that we’re gonna write a new narrative. We have ultimate control over it. And we’re gonna do what needs to be done. … When you go through adversity, there’s nothing that shapes a true man like going through adversity. 

“Sunday, we’re gonna cut it loose.” 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2026/09/09/why-cincinnati-bengals-defense-confident-in-linebackers/91681414007/

ByDylan Oakley|Sep 11, 2026, 8:00 AM EDT

The optimism is sky-high for the Cincinnati Bengals this season. After several years of subpar defensive play and a weak O-line failing to protect Joe Burrow, this year feels different. Specifically, the defense looks completely different, and is expected to take a massive leap.

Of course, the big talking point is Dexter Lawrence, who has pushed the interior of the defensive line from average to elite, with Jonathan Allen alongside him.

This line should not only be able to stuff the run more frequently, but also get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And that's bad news for the Ravens, after they let Tyler Linderbaum walk in free agency and replaced the man snapping Lamar Jackson the ball with someone far less proven.

The Ravens are the Bengals' biggest challengers for the AFC North

Looking at the state of the North this season, it looks likely to be a two-horse race between the Bengals and the Ravens. Baltimore has Super Bowl aspirations this year too, and it'll be interesting to see how they look without John Harbaugh at the helm.

However, looking at the other side of the ball from Lawrence, the Ravens may be at a significant disadvantage compared with Cincinnati this season. Their big loss in the offseason was center Tyler Linderbaum, who joined the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Linderbaum has been one of the best interior linemen since he came into the league in 2022, and the Ravens are now without him.

Dexter Lawrence could cause problems for Lamar Jackson this season

With Linderbaum gone, Lawrence could be in line to cause Lamar Jackson a lot of issues in their two meetings this season, especially considering that the Ravens haven't really gone out and replaced Linderbaum at center either.

This week, the Ravens named Jovaughn Gwyn as their starting center. If you haven't heard of him, it wouldn't be a surprise. Gwyn only has one full season under his belt in the NFL. Last year, he played 17 games for the Atlanta Falcons, however, he was mainly a special teams guy.

In fact, Gwyn played just 11 offensive snaps for the Falcons last year, and he is yet to play a snap at center in the NFL, as he has been a guard when he has come into the offensive line for the Falcons in the past.

Let's get this straight. Dexter Lawrence, a three-time pro-bowler and two-time All-Pro defensive tackle, is coming up against a guy who played 11 snaps in the NFL last season per PFF, and has only really played as a special teamer; there's only one winner.

If the Bengals generate pressure up the middle to force Jackson out of the pocket, and make sure they designate a spy to contain his production on the ground, they could legitimately shut down this Ravens offense better than they've ever been able to before.

A huge upgrade on the defensive line for Cincinnati, and a huge downgrade in front of Jackson for Baltimore, that makes the division title seem a lot more achievable than it has over the past few seasons.

https://stripehype.com/the-ravens-center-downgrade-could-hand-the-bengals-the-afc-north-01m20nzepk0m

Carson Palmer forced his way out of Cincinnati in 2011, requesting a trade and threatening to retire rather than play for the Bengals again. At the 2011 trade deadline, the Bengals sent the quarterback to the Raiders.

Some have surmised that Joe Burrow’s time with the team could see a similar exit after the current Bengals quarterback has, at times, expressed frustration with the organization.

He recently made a “now or never” declaration for the 2026 season, again inviting speculation about his future in Cincinnati. Burrow clarified in an exclusive interview with Geoff Hobson of the team website that it was not meant as an ultimatum.

“I’m efficient with my words, and when I’m efficient with my words, that leaves some room for interpretation,” Burrow said. “But I mean what I say. I’m here for the long haul. I’m not going anywhere. I’m just trying to bring a now-or-never mentality to the day-by-day process. If you’re not, what are you doing? Attack the day with a championship mindset. The rest will take care of itself.”

After reaching Super Bowl LVI in 2021 and the AFC Championship Game in 2022, the Bengals have missed the postseason in each of the past three years.

The franchise has never won a Super Bowl, and Burrow wants to change.

Burrow grew up in Ohio, graduated from high school in Ohio and began his college career at Ohio State. Playing for the Bengals means more to him than Palmer, a California native, or perhaps any other quarterback to play in Cincinnati.

“I’m just really proud to be quarterback of the Bengals,” Burrow said. “I’m happy to be here. I’m proud to represent the city of Cincinnati, state of Ohio, the Brown family. I’m just proud and I want to make everybody else proud, too.”

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/cincinnati-bengals

Hope Jack Endries makes it on to the practice squad.

(Bengals Gods please forgive me for saying this but Eric All still has to...)

McKinley Jackson hopefully traded for a late pick.

tix via transfer.

Will keep you updated but head's up.

let me know!

If you get early access.... the website is in Spanish.

Not every page has an English translation button available.

There will be a LOT of "I'm a human" challenges.... I had to go through six or seven. I also had to enter my emailed access code more than once.

When you check out, you have to LOG IN to the website. This is NOT a TicketBastard site or a Bengals.Tickets site OR an NFL site, so none of your login info on any of those sites will work. Don't click on the "¿Has olvidado tu contraseña?" link - that will act like it's emailing you your forgotten password, but that email will never come. That's because this is a site you've never been on before, so you have to register (the word for register is in Spanish, no translation option for this page). So if you never took Spanish in highschool, have a tab with Google Translate open and practice cutting and pasting. Lol.

Tickets range from E93 to E439. That's roughly $100 to $500 in freedom currency units. The prices are all-in.... all fees and VAT and other nuisance taxes are included. What you're quoted is what you pay.

My seats are on the 500 level, midfield (photo below). I paid E180 (US$200) each for them. Four on the aisle, midway up.

Lemme know if anyone else is going. If you are, we can hook up and you can meet Isobel and her hubby - they're sitting in two of the seats. :)

• Ben BabyAug 3, 2026, 06:00 AM ET

CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow looked like he had the game sealed.

His queen was advancing up the board. His rook, flanking the left side, was in a solid position. What unfolded after a bad move by his opponent early in the game seemed inevitable.

"He had me dead to rights," said William Wagner, the Bengals' long-snapper.

But Wagner battled. He made one defensive move with his king, and just like that, they had a stalemate.

Cincinnati's first week of training camp has featured a few spirited practices, a noted practice scuffle and an intense edge from a team sick of missing the playoffs. But as it has looked to put the rest of the AFC North in check in 2026, the first days of the season have also featured a chessboard.

Like other team activities this offseason, the game has allowed the Bengals to unwind and spend downtime at the facility and also increase the chemistry needed to become a great team. And it's a window into the mindset of a teammate.

"It is fun because chess is like a personality game, you know?" said Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Coker. "It's like, what are you thinking? Are you trying to go? Are you playing defensive? Playing the long game? Trying to win now? I like it."

Cincinnati can thank center Ted Karras and the addition of more offensive linemen this offseason. In April's draft, the Bengals selected center Connor Lew (No. 128) and offensive tackle Brian Parker II (No. 189), which stretched the seating arrangement inside the locker room farther down the left wall.

Joe Burrow is one of the better chess players on the team. 

Annoyed by the lack of proximity, Karras devised a plan. He wanted to add a table to add a gathering space for the position group. Bengals left guard Dylan Fairchild, a rookie last season, found a brown, circular table on Facebook Marketplace for roughly $300.

But along with a place to watch practice film, Karras felt like something was missing.

"I just wanted something to do," Karras said.

So he brought in the chessboard.

After the team practiced Thursday, Karras and Coker played the inaugural game. As they shifted pieces around the board, a crowd gathered. Other offensive linemen started to watch. Eventually Burrow and fellow quarterback Joe Flacco joined the gallery.

The pressure was on.

"They see moves that you probably should make and you may or may not make it and then they react," said Coker, who used two pawns-turned-queens to beat Karras. "Or they make a noise. You're like, 'Did I make the wrong move or something?'"

Tight end Erick All Jr. was one of the interested parties. For the bulk of his college career, he was at Michigan along with Wagner and Bengals cornerbacks DJ Turner II and Dax Hill. Chessboards sprawled in the cafeteria. Wagner reminded him of one story that he forgot.

One year, All was locked into a match with then-Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, an avid chess player. Harbaugh was noted for taking his time before making his next move. And All was getting concerned looking at the clock.

"The team meeting was about to start and he was like, 'Don't move. Stay here,'" All recalled. "We were like five minutes late to this meeting, playing chess, in a game that we didn't even get to finish."

All is considered one of the best at chess in the locker room. All, who has progressed well in his first year back from a knee injury he suffered in 2024, estimates his highest ever Elo rating -- a skill level rating where the average person is typically between 800 and 900 -- was around 980.

But he believes Burrow still holds the crown as the locker room's best (Burrow, a longtime player, declined to divulge his Elo rating).

But for the Bengals, what matters most is the camaraderie being fostered, especially ahead of an important season. The Bengals have missed the playoffs three years in a row after advancing to the Super Bowl in 2021.

"It felt good, the guys all gathering around the table," All said. "It's a good way to bring guys [together]. And you got to be smart. You got to know your way around the board to play. You just can't be making senseless moves."

Over the course of the season, players can expect to see more games on the table. Karras said he'll plan on bringing in Catan at some point to play during lighter days. When the workload is heavy and rigorous, Karras said he'll slide the games under the table.

"I don't want to be 'Gaming Guy' and we're going against [Dexter Lawrence II] today," Karras said.

But after the first extended session of camp wrapped up Saturday, the chessboard was sitting at the edge of the table. The pieces were on the board, waiting to be deployed for the next battle.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/49512851/joe-burrow-cincinnati-bengals-find-camaraderie-unusual-battlefield

DT GENO ATKINS (2010-2020)

RING RESUME: At 6-1, 300 pounds, he re-defined the defensive tackle position with an unblockable brew of speed and strength. His 75.5 career sacks led all NFL defensive tackles in the decade of the 2010s, as did his eight Pro Bowls, the most ever by a Bengals defender. Atkins was also named to two All-Pro teams while racking up the third-most sacks in club history.

The Number: According to Pro Football Reference, Atkins also leads all defensive tackles in quarterback hits during the 2010s with 172.

K JIM BREECH (1980-92)

RING RESUME: The only 1,000-point scorer in Bengals history, his 9-for-9 effort in overtime defined a career in the clutch. His overtime winner on the last snap of the 1988 regular season gave the Bengals home-field advantage on the way to Super Bowl XXIII. That's where his 40-yarder with 3:20 left gave them 16-13 lead. As third-leading scorer in the NFL in 1981, Breech helped get them to their first one at Super Bowl XVI and finished the 1980s as NFL's fifth-leading scorer.

THE NUMBER: After nearly staking claim to Super Bowl XXIII MVP trophy, Breech was only kicker with two 40-yard field goals in a Super Bowl for nearly 30 years.

HB JAMES BROOKS (1984-91)

RING RESUME: A modern-day marvel who heralded the arrival of such versatile late 20th-century and early 21st-century running backs as Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey, Brooks was a centerpiece of Bengals head coach Sam Wyche's no huddle offense. He still ranks as the Bengals' second all-time leading rusher with 6,447 yards, while his 297 catches are the second most by a running back in franchise history. A three-time 1,000-yard rusher, he also had four 40-catch seasons, and his four Pro Bowls match only Corey Dillon for most by a Bengals running back.

THE NUMBER: During eight seasons with the Bengals, Brooks had more yards from scrimmage than any other NFL running back except Pro Football Hall of Famers Eric Dickerson, Roger Craig and Marcus Allen (Pro Football Reference).

WR CRIS COLLINSWORTH (1981-88)

RING RESUME: Collinsworth became the franchise's first 1,000-yard receiver in an unforgettable rookie year of 1981 that helped the Bengals get to their first Super Bowl. His four 1,000-yard seasons translated to three Pro Bowls. His last career catch converted a third-and-eight on a drive the Bengals took a 6-3 lead midway through third quarter in their second Super Bowl before he became one of the NFL's greatest analysts ever with almost half as many Emmys (17) as TDs (36).

THE NUMBER: During his career, he had 6,698 yards receiving. In that same eight-season stretch, only Pro Football Hall of Famers James Lofton, Steve Largent and Art Monk had more.

DE CARLOS DUNLAP (2010-2020)

RING RESUME: A lean, slippery force on the edge, Dunlap's 82.5 sacks are the most by a Bengal in the Paycor Stadium era and a sack away from Eddie Edwards' franchise record. He made his presence known setting the Bengals' rookie sack record with nine in 2010 and then took the club record with 13.5 in 2015 before it was broken. He had the fourth-most sacks in a decade among NFL defensive ends with a signature game coming when he hit Russell Wilson six times and sacked him 1.5 as eventual AFC North champs went to 5-0 with an OT win over Seattle in 2015. Dunlap also was a two-time Bengals' Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.

The Number: During the 2010s, his 60 passes defensed trailed only J.J. Watt's 61 among NFL defensive linemen.

S DAVID FULCHER (1986-92)

RING RESUME: A revolutionary chess piece on the defensive side of the ball, Fulcher tackled like a linebacker and roamed centerfield like the three-time Pro Bowler he was with 31 interceptions, the most ever by a Bengals safety and third most among NFL safeties in that same stretch behind only Ronnie Lott's 34 and Joey Browner's 32. When Bengals defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau came up with his game-changing zone-blitz scheme, the original call was "Fulcher 2 Stay." He had a pair of hat-trick games with three picks, plus six career interceptions in the old AFC Central's most heated rivalry against the Houston Oilers.

THE NUMBER: During his eight seasons in Cincinnati, according to Bengals' tackling stats, Fulcher's the only safety with at least 634 combined tackles and 30 interceptions in the league during that stretch.

WR A.J. GREEN (2011-2020)

RING RESUME: Silky smooth with moves as classy as his leadership, Green became the first wide receiver in NFL history named to the Pro Bowl in his first seven seasons in a stretch he racked up the fourth most yards in the NFL. After the Bengals made him the fourth pick in 2011 draft, he became the face of five straight playoff berths in a career that featured dominating AFC North performances. Late catches felled the Steelers in 2012 and 2015 playoff runs, he had nine touchdowns against the Ravens, and four 100-yard games against the Browns. Despite missing nearly two full seasons because of injuries, his 9,430 yards and 65 touchdowns are second only to Chad Johnson in Bengals annals.

The Number: His Bengals career started with sharing his first Opening Day start with wide receiver Jerome Simpson and quarterback Andy Dalton in a game his first NFL TD catch gave the Bengals a fourth-quarter comeback win. It stretched to Green catching five balls from rookie quarterback Joe Burrow in the game rookie wide receiver Tee Higgins caught his first two touchdowns.

CB LEON HALL (2007-2015)

RING RESUME: A savvy, versatile cover man who roamed almost invisibly between the outside and the slot, Hall played in 121 games, most by a Bengals cornerback in this century and third all-time despite missing 23 games with a pair of torn Achilles. His 26 interceptions hold the same positions in the record book during a run that saw him named consensus co-team MVP with cornerback Johnathan Joseph in the 2009 AFC North sweep generated by the NFL's fourth-ranked defense. That's the year he had 24 passes defensed to go with six picks after a season he led the NFL with 24 passes defensed. From 2007-2012, Hall defended 90 passes, third best in the league.

The Number: In the game to go to the 2012 playoffs, he scored the Bengals only touchdown on a 17-yard pick-six in the 13-10 win in Pittsburgh. Two weeks later in the Wild Card Game in Houston, his 21-yard pick-six put them on the board.

G MAX MONTOYA (1979-89)

RING RESUME: Montoya is regarded as the greatest guard in Bengals history as a three-time Pro Bowler and one of the best right guards in the game during two Super Bowl runs. He anchored the NFL's second-ranked offense that went to Super Bowl XVI, and his O-Line paved the way for the next Super Bowl when the Bengals' running game kept the ball for 39 minutes in the 1988 AFC title game win over Buffalo. Along with Pro Football Hall of Fame left tackle Anthony Muñoz, he is the only man to protect both Bengals NFL MVPs Ken Anderson and Boomer Esiason.

THE NUMBER: With Montoya at the point, the Bengals offense finished in the top five eight times.

TE BOB TRUMPY (1968-77)

RING RESUME: A giant on the field and in front of the camera, Trumpy is the only Bengal to be named to multiple Pro Bowls in both the AFL and NFL before going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014 as the Pete Rozelle Radio & Television Award winner. A Round 12 pick who became a key instrument as the Bengals brain trust of Paul Brown and Bill Walsh evolved the modern pass game. His 22.6 yards per catch in 1969 is the second-longest for an NFL tight end in a season and the second-longest of any receiver in franchise history. He announced four Super Bowls, four Pro Bowls and six Hall of Fame Games.

THE NUMBER: From 1968-73, he caught 216 passes for an average of 15.8 yards per catch, second best among NFL tight ends for those six seasons (Pro Football Reference).

LT ANDREW WHITWORTH (2006-2016)

RING RESUME: Whitworth captained six Cincy playoff teams while being named to three Pro Bowls, a feat accomplished at Bengals tackle only by Ring of Honor members Anthony Muñoz and Willie Anderson. A monstrous 6-7, 330-pounder who combined girth, geometry and guile to dominate the trenches, he had Pro Football Focus' lowest pressure rate among all NFL tackles during the 2010s that included the history-making 2014 season he protected Andy Dalton 613 times and allowed 10 pressures and no sacks. With 168, he's played the most Bengals games by an offensive player in the Paycor era. Whitworth was also a multi-time Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee.

The Number: Along with those elite passing numbers, he blocked for four different Bengals' 1,000-yard rushers: Rudi Johnson, Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Jeremy Hill.

LB REGGIE WILLIAMS (1976-89)

RING RESUME: The most prolific tackler and linebacker in franchise history, Williams graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's Co-Sportsmen of the Year issue in 1987 a year after being named NFL Man of the Year. He has the most games (206), most sacks (62.5) and most interceptions (16) of all Bengals backers. Williams led the Bengals defense to Super Bowl XVI with team-high 11 sacks and had the second most tackles with 106. Seven years later in Super Bowl XXIII, he had a team-high 10 tackles and a sack while serving as Cincinnati City Councilman.

THE NUMBER: With 54 sacks (Pro Football Reference) and 788 tackles (Bengals), His Honor and Pro Football Hall of Famer Rickey Jackson are only linebackers in the 1980s with 50 sacks and 700 tackles.

That's it, that's the post.

Would we have won a Super Bowl?

Would Marvin Lewis still be here?

Or would Mahomes have been squandered? Is Mahomes the product of Andy Reid?

What do you think?

Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Huntington Bank Field. Scott Galvin-Imagn Images

John Sheeran

Tue, Jul 21, 2026, 6:20 AM CDT

The Cincinnati Bengals open training camp in one week, and optimism surrounding this roster sits at a level the franchise hasn't experienced in years. Grok, the AI developed by X (formerly known as Twitter), apparently agrees.

The Cincinnati Bengals open training camp in one week, and optimism surrounding this roster sits at a level the franchise hasn't experienced in years.

Grok, the AI developed by X (formerly known as Twitter), apparently agrees. I asked Grok to simulate the Bengals' full 2026 season with week-by-week results, individual statistics, awards, and postseason fate.

It produced a dream scenario for the franchise.

As with anything involving artificial intelligence, take the results with a grain of salt. But if you're feeling a sense of extreme optimism, these projections will only fuel the fire.

Grok's game-by-game results for the 2026 regular season

Grok has the Bengals finishing 12-5 and winning the AFC North for the first time since 2022. Twelve wins would tie the franchise record for most in a single season. Cincinnati went 12-4 back in 2022 as the season was reduced to 16 games due to Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest in Week 17.

The simulated season doesn't start smoothly, though. Grok projects Cincinnati to open 1-2 with losses to the Houston Texans in Week 2 and the Pittsburgh Stealers in Week 3 following a season-opening win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Bengals climb back over .500 before their Week 6 bye, and after a loss at the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7, they rattle off six consecutive victories. That stretch includes a 27-16 win over the Atlanta Falcons in Cincinnati's first international game in seven years, and back-to-back primetime wins against the Stealers and Washington Commanders in Weeks 10 and 11.

Losses to the Kansas City Chiefs and Indianapolis Colts create a couple of speed bumps late, but the Bengals still win three of their final five games to secure the No. 3 seed in the AFC playoff bracket.

Simulated statistical leaders and accolades won

Grok's offensive projections are where things get exciting. The Bengals average 28.4 points per game (top five in the NFL) while allowing 21.8 on defense (top 10).

Burrow throws for 4,712 yards, 35 touchdown passes, and 10 interceptions with a 67.5 completion percentage. He earns first-team All-Pro honors and wins NFL MVP for the first time in his career.

Ja'Marr Chase records a league-leading 1,582 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns, earning All-Pro recognition for a third consecutive season and winning Offensive Player of the Year for the first time in his career.

Running back Chase Brown makes his first Pro Bowl with 1,248 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns, and 548 receiving yards. Offensive tackle Amarius Mims fulfills his potential as a first-team All-Pro alongside Burrow and Chase.

On top of all the player accolades, Zac Taylor becomes the third Bengals coach in history to win AP Coach of the Year, joining Marvin Lewis (2009), and Paul Brown (1970).

A Super Bowl run nearly 60 years in the making

As the No. 3 seed, the Bengals host the sixth-seeded Los Angeles Chargers in the wild card round and roll to a 35-14 victory. They then host the Bills in the divisional round and win a 30-27 thriller on a game-winning drive by Burrow.

The AFC Championship brings a rematch with Kansas City. Cincinnati wins 27-24 in overtime, matching the exact score of the 2022 AFC Championship that sent the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI.

Grok then sends Cincinnati to SoFi Stadium for Super Bowl LXI against the Philadelphia Eagles, where the Bengals win 28-24 to capture their first Lombardi Trophy in 59 years of existence.

Sky-high vibes are palpable

This is about as good as any simulation could get for a Bengals fan. It's also precisely the trajectory the organization envisions for this roster.

Burrow did not mince his words last month, saying he feels the same vibes as he felt before the 2019 season at LSU, when the Tigers went undefeated and won the College Football Playoff National Championship.

"Go back and watch what I said before the 2019 season at LSU. I feel very similarly about this team," Burrow said. "I'm so excited to get started and get moving, and I wish we would ramp this right into training camp, so we can continue to improve, because I feel like there's so much greatness that we're going to be able to achieve this year. I'm just excited to get going."

Grok appears to be of the same mind. Whether the AI projections hold any weight remains to be seen, but the ceiling for this Bengals team is as high as it has ever been heading into training camp.

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/grok-simulates-cincinnati-bengals-2026-112000498.html

While Burrow said the record is a personal goal this season, he’s more focused on the success of the offense overall.

"We've got to be more explosive,” he said. “We've been great in third down and red zone situations, but we've got to get back to being the explosive offense that we were in '21 and '22.

“For a couple of years there, teams were playing us a little differently, so we had to adapt,” Burrow continued. “Now defenses are starting to turn back the other way, where they are pressuring more and playing a little more man, so we have to go back to burning them and becoming an explosive offense again."

So who is on your Zac Taylor Mount Rushmore?

Joe Burrow

Ja'Marr Chase

Tee Higgins

Trey Hendrickson

Who you got?

(Marvin will be next)

Pat Brennan

Cincinnati Enquirer

June 10, 2026 Updated June 11, 2026, 9:04 a.m. ET

• Rookie Bengals LB's Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr. reflect on challenging rookie seasons

• Both players struggled at times in 2025 but already see the potential for better in 2026

The year-over-year growth for Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter is evidenced in his improved quality of life away from the game.

Thrust into a prominent role in the Bengals' already-struggling defense during the 2025 season, Carter wore the anxieties that came with the nature of his job. Carter rates himself as a smart player, and so do others, but the Bengals' scheme was admittedly difficult for him to learn.

"I vividly remember, after practice I would go home so stressed," Carter said. "Obviously, I knew what my responsibility was on certain plays, but I didn't know it. Like, I didn't have it like the back of my hand like I do now. Thinking about that and thinking about where I am now, it's truly night and day. I'm just trying to keep building on that, keep developing and keep learning.

"Your rookie year is your longest year of your life, so coming in, it was a lot. I was drinking from a fire hose every single day. Just learn what I can, learn every single day."

Demetrius Knight Jr., a fellow Bengals rookie linebacker, had many of the same experiences as Carter, and he used the same phrase − "night and day difference" − to compare his current comfort level to his first year in the NFL.

"I know what to expect. I know the playbook," Knight said. "When you get here as a rookie, you're trying to not roll with the punches but you're trying to make sure you're good for that day. Now, I can understand what's going on today, what's going on tomorrow, what we put in last week... Just being at home."

By now, the Bengals' rollercoaster ride at the linebacker position in 2025 is well-documented: Carter and Knight, the team's two freshly-drafted rookies, were thrust into starting roles, and Logan Wilson, a captain at the position, was traded midseason. And with the absence of Wilson, plus increased playing time for the rookies, came the growing pains for Carter and Knight.

All of those moves, and the implementation of two rookies starting in particular, were part of a plan. As of early June and organized team activities, Carter and Knight are big pieces of that ongoing plan, and still viewed as anchors at linebacker. To that end, they're also seen as important parts of a defense that was revamped in the offseason via free agency.

With training camp looming, it won't be long until there's a better assessment of whether the team steered Carter and Knight on good paths for the future, but both players already feel like they're in better positions to contribute in 2026.

Knight finished 2025 with 58 solo tackles, three sacks, a forced fumbled and two interceptions. Carter compiled 53 solo tackles and an interception. As defensive coordinator Al Golden has suggested several times, 2025 might end up looking like fertile ground on which to build and launch their NFL careers, and their respective statistics support that.

Why would Year 2 be better than Year 1 for these two players? Aside from the individual growth they described, the aforementioned free-agency additions figure to boost the entire unit, Knight contended. That's the nature of building a sound defense.

"The help that you bring to surround Barrett and I, both up front and behind us, only helps elevate out play," Knight said.

It will be weeks before we see Bengals players wearing pads and helmets, and even longer than that until we see them hitting players on other teams. For now, it's fair to remain skeptical of the positive quotes coming out of Paycor Stadium because the words will have to be supported by on-field action soon enough.

The stories of Carter and Knight are relatable and convincing. They were keenly aware of the defensive struggles at-large, as well as their roles in it. But their careers, and the Bengals' 2026 season, don't have to be defined by what transpired a year ago.

"I would not trade that year for the world," Carter said. "I hate how it went and I hate how we left a lot of plays out there and we could have been so much better but I know who us as a group, me individually, me and 'D-Knight,' us as a linebacker core, we're gonna be so much stronger because of it. So strong."

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2026/06/10/barrett-carter-demetrius-knight-jr-confident-for-bengals/90484702007/

Dave Clark

Cincinnati Enquirer

• Bengals great Andrew Whitworth talked about quarterback Joe Burrow's future in Cincinnati during an interview with Athlon Sports.

• Whitworth expressed excitement for the Bengals this season after the offseason additions they've made.

Former Cincinnati Bengals great Andrew Whitworth, an Amazon Prime Video analyst, talked about Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's future in Cincinnati during an interview with Athlon Sports, in addition to Burrow's comparison of the Bengals to the 2019 LSU Tigers team he helped to a national title.

"Yeah, dude, I'm excited. I really am," Whitworth said. "I think that they're excited and they're pumped up. And I think you can see some real change in Joe, in the sense of there's a real emphasis by him and his leadership style to make an emphasis in changing that and being a different dude. I'm excited for him on that, and then I think that really when you look at it, what they've done on defense and really the changes there, I think they feel excited that this division is wide open.

"I think that there’s a lot of questions with all those other (AFC North) rosters, and the one thing the Cincinnati Bengals can say is, regardless of how long it's been, they had this run, and yes, they've been great on offense. But they've been injured. They've been insane statistically on offense in every one of these seasons. Nobody's been able to stop them, so they've got to feel good about the fact that if you had one thing you think in this division that you can count on that offensively this team is going to be really good, and now defensively they're going to be a little bit better, and maybe way better. ... I think they have every bit as much opportunity. They just have to stay healthy and be ready to go."

Whitworth addresses Burrow's Bengals future

"Well, I just think that for one, what is Joe Burrow worth in an open market of people trying to trade for him?" Whitworth said. "I mean, it's got to be something insane. And then with Cincinnati and a league that's driven by who you have holding the football in their hand every time you snap a football, would you ever give up Joe Burrow? I think that it's a fun narrative more than it's a realistic narrative, and that's kind of what I mean. When I think of the organizations that would take that swing, one of them already just took the swing with Myles Garrett and the draft and Ty Simpson and everything else in the Rams."

Whitworth shared some eye-opening remarks in April about Baltimore Ravens defensive end Trey Hendrickson during an appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show," when asked about the Bengals' trade with the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

In October 2025, Whitworth blasted the Bengals' front office for the players the team has acquired via draft and free agency to play offensive line during an appearance with McAfee.

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/nfl/bengals/2026/06/24/andrew-whitworth-cincinnati-bengals-joe-burrow-nfl-football-trade-proposal-insane/90681048007/

My

• 

  Bill BarnwellApr 19, 2026, 12:10 AM ET

When I was putting together my trade tiers column over the summer and listing all the players who might land a first-round pick or more via a deal, Dexter Lawrence II was the very last cut. The Giants defensive tackle was a preeminent force on the interior and coming off a nine-sack season, but there were plenty of coverage sacks or secondary pressures factored into those totals, and Lawrence was already deep into his second contract, a point at which teams around the league had grown reluctant to trade first-round picks for even standout players.

Well, the game has changed. We've seen organizations around the NFL establish and pay a new premium for veteran defensive linemen. Even leaving Micah Parsons' deal with the Packers aside, the Cowboys sent first- and second-round picks to the Jets for Quinnen Williams. The Ravens agreed to send two first-round picks to the Raiders for Maxx Crosby before walking that deal back for injury reasons.

And on Saturday night, the Bengals stunningly became the latest team to go over the top for a veteran lineman, sending the 10th pick to the Giants to add Lawrence to their defensive line. The 28-year-old Lawrence had reportedly sought a new deal with New York, but once the two sides weren't able to find common ground, the Giants pivoted to the trade market.

What they received, frankly, is shocking. There's a reason that the reports on social media from NFL insiders had to include "straight up" to confirm that there wasn't a second-round pick or something else substantial heading back to Cincinnati as part of this deal. This is a massive return, one that would have seemed completely stunning to me a year ago, even given that Lawrence was coming off a better season. If we look at the big takeaways from this trade, I have to start there.

1. The NFL's trade paradigm has officially shifted.

Lawrence is now the fourth prominent defensive lineman to be included in a trade for a first-round pick over the past nine months after Parsons, Williams and Crosby (whose deal admittedly didn't come to fruition but still gives us a sense of how he was valued). The Parsons trade doesn't really belong with the other three, given that he was a younger player who hadn't even signed his second contract, let alone played through part of that deal.

The Cowboys' trade for Williams is really the moment when what NFL teams were willing to pay to acquire star defensive linemen midway through their second contracts shifted. It's impossible to say whether the Williams trade was the first example of that new world or whether it was the actual trade that caused prices to go up, but it generated a return that seemed out of line with what teams had been willing to give up in exchange for players with this level of experience, as well as wear and tear. Remember that the Bengals hadn't been able to land a first-round pick last offseason as they looked to trade Trey Hendrickson, who was coming off a 17.5-sack, first-team All-Pro season.

Lawrence didn't land the Giants a first and a second, or a pair of first-round picks, but he did land them another top-10 selection. We see teams trade away top-10 picks as they move up for rookie talent or as part of deals where they've dealt away future first-rounders (and didn't know where their first-rounders would land), but it's incredibly rare to see NFL franchises trade picks this high in the draft for individual veterans.

How rare? We've seen a grand total of two veterans traded for first-round picks that were already guaranteed to be in the top 10 since 2000. One was Randy Moss, who was dealt as part of a deal for the seventh pick in 2005. The other was Russell Wilson, who was shipped to the Broncos for a package that included the ninth selection in 2022. Moss was a 28-year-old wide receiver with a Hall of Fame résumé. Wilson was a quarterback who had reached five consecutive Pro Bowls. Lawrence is a very good player, but he isn't a quarterback, and he's not on a Hall of Fame track.

Organizations were more comfortable trading first-round picks or high selections for veteran players in the 1980s and 1990s, but as the league went under the salary cap and subsequently introduced the rookie scale in 2011, we saw teams emphasize pick value and younger talent. Front offices grew more thoughtful about player aging expectations and recognized the potential of landing players on cost-controlled deals for the first four years of their NFL careers. They've continued to prioritize youth in free agency, but NFL general managers are suddenly more open to trading first-round picks for veterans.

Although some pointed toward the Rams of the past decade as evidence that those picks might be overvalued in the context of recent trades, that has always been shortsighted. The Rams were generally trading their first-round picks for young, established stars entering the primes of their careers -- players such as Brandin Cooks, Jalen Ramsey and most recently Trent McDuffie. They reportedly tried to send two first-round picks to the Panthers for Brian Burns. Les Snead made a big move up in the draft for Jared Goff.

The Rams' only exception was trading two first-round picks for Matthew Stafford. Quarterbacks are often the exception.

There was a year when the Dolphins and Raiders both traded first-round picks (plus more) in deals for veteran wide receivers in Tyreek Hill and Davante Adams, respectively, but non-quarterbacks in the middle of their second contracts in the age-28 range hadn't typically landed first-round picks, let alone anything on top of that. We've now seen three trades agreed to involving veterans in this range along the defensive line over the past nine months, although one wasn't executed because of a physical (and the Lawrence trade is still subject to one).

I'm not sure it's a wise shift toward prioritizing what teams believe to be known quantities. The Moss and Wilson trades didn't work out whatsoever. Williams played well in Dallas but wasn't able to turn around the Cowboys' defense in any sort of meaningful way in his first half-season. The Adams deal was a disappointment in Vegas, as the Raiders failed to self-scout and thought they were closer than they actually were to contention. Hill was a fantastic wide receiver for two years in Miami, but the Chiefs would feel pretty happy with what they landed on the other side of the deal, most notably with McDuffie.

With that being said, there's still plenty of time for the Williams trade to play out. We'll see what happens with Lawrence, who now becomes the focal point of the defense in Cincinnati. And there's also the reality of where the league is going schematically. Defenses want to live like the 2025 Seahawks and so many Vic Fangio-influenced units over the past decade. They want to stay out of their base personnel, keep a nickel defender on the field as much as possible, play two deep safeties, show light boxes in terms of size and numbers, influence teams to run the ball and then repeatedly win against offenses by stealing gaps and winning their one-on-one matchups. You need to have standouts up front to make that work, and there aren't many humans on the planet who have Lawrence's combination of size and athleticism.

Although I personally might not think trading first-round picks for players approaching 30 is a great idea, it's clear that NFL teams are more open to the idea than they have been in years past. That's going to impact the trade market at premium positions in the years to come. The return the Panthers eventually landed for Burns (a second-round pick and a pair of fifth-rounders) feels light in comparison to what's going around now. The Eagles shouldn't settle for anything short of a first-round pick for A.J. Brown. And if a player like Jeffery Simmons ever landed in trade talks, well, we could be looking at an NBA-esque haul for one of the league's best defensive players, even given that he's turning 29 in July. I'll have to incorporate that moving forward as I evaluate these trades.

2. The league doesn't appear to like this draft class.

An alternate explanation for what's going on might simply be that the NFL doesn't see 2026 first-round picks as particularly valuable. Although there are a few standout hybrid players at the top of the first round and a couple of positions that are relatively deep into Day 2, this is widely regarded around the league as one of the weaker drafts in recent memory.

Organizations want to see drafts with plug-and-play starters at key positions like wide receiver, edge rusher and left tackle, but there aren't many players who project to be standouts in those spots. The players who will come off the board first at those positions have more question marks than usual. Is Texas Tech's David Bailey stout enough to hold up as an NFL edge defender? Is Ohio State's Arvell Reese really an elite pass rusher? Is OSU's Carnell Tate a true WR1 or a player who benefited from playing across from Jeremiah Smith?

I think the answers to all three of those questions are yes, but it's easier to say that from the outside than it is to put a first-round pick behind that call. And given how we've now seen the Packers, Colts, Bengals, Rams and even the Ravens (briefly) trade away first-round picks for veteran players over the past few months, it certainly seems like there are teams that don't see this as a premium draft. The Cowboys, to the contrary, traded away a 2027 first-round pick and held on to their two first-rounders in 2026 as part of the Williams deal.

3. The Bengals believe Lawrence is a true game-changer.

With the 10th pick, the Bengals might have been in position to draft someone like Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr. or LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane, players who rate among the best at their respective positions in this class. With history telling us how the league views safeties, Ohio State's Caleb Downs might have even fallen to them. Unless the draft went in completely unexpected ways, the Bengals were going to be in position to take a defensive player who would have excited their fan base in Round 1.

Instead, they traded for Lawrence, landing the Bengals a three-time Pro Bowler on the interior. Evaluating Lawrence's impact, especially after last season, is tricky. Let's start with the passing game. Most nose tackles don't have the athletic ability or the time to impact the quarterback. Lawrence is one of the few exceptions to that rule, as he's capable of overwhelming interior linemen one-on-one and winning quickly enough to actually cause opposing passers some problems.

Lawrence's nine-sack season in 2024 is an outlier, and on closer inspection at the time, a handful of those takedowns were cleanup sacks on plays where someone else won and Lawrence benefited. The 2025 season was a case of regression way past the mean, as Lawrence fell all the way to 0.5 sacks. His pressure rate fell from 9.6% in 2024 to 5.9% in 2025, per NFL Next Gen Stats.

Both 2024 and 2025 seem like unrealistic expectations for Lawrence's sack production or lack thereof. He has averaged five sacks and 16 knockdowns per 17 games as a pro, and those numbers seem eminently reasonable as a projection for Lawrence's 2026 campaign.

That sort of pass-rush production from a 0-technique defensive tackle is excellent, and it'll make life easier for Cincinnati's edge rushers, who won't see double-teams quite as often. But if Lawrence is your best pass rusher, as he projects to be for a Bengals team that didn't have a player top six sacks last season, I'm not sure you're going to have the sort of pass rush you're hoping for from your front four.

The same qualities that make Lawrence so explosive as an interior pass rusher also make him a load to deal with in the run game. He isn't going to shoot gaps and make a lot of tackles for loss in the backfield against the run, having maxed out at four in a single season since joining the Giants, but he's going to absorb double-teams and create opportunities for other players to flow to the ball carrier. Lawrence was double-teamed at the second-highest rate of any interior lineman in the league last season.

Even with a full season from a player avowed to be the best nose tackle in football, though, the Giants were horrific against the run in 2025. They were last in the league in EPA per play against designed runs (plus-0.13), last in yards per carry allowed against those rush attempts (5.4) and 31st in success rate allowed (51.7%). They gave up consistent chunks of yardage, got pushed off the line and then allowed too many big plays once running backs got past the first level.

I don't think anyone can or should pin the majority of those issues on Lawrence. The Giants lost starting linebacker Micah McFadden to a season-ending injury in Week 1, though he isn't exactly Fred Warner. They didn't have great players in the secondary. The tackling and the angles simply weren't good enough. But at the same time, watch enough of those big plays and you'll see a few where Lawrence gets blocked out of the play one-on-one. It wasn't his best season as a run defender, owing perhaps to a balky elbow.

If you're a Bengals fan who wants to write off 2025 as a lost season for Lawrence given the injury, his frustrations with his contract and a New York team that fired its coach at midseason and was out of the postseason picture by mid-November, that's perfectly reasonable. But although the Bengals have made changes on the back end to try to fix some of their problems this offseason, this team had the same issues with tackling and angles that the Giants had. Cincinnati led the league with 170 missed tackles last season. No other team had more than 131. Swapping out Geno Stone for Bryan Cook was a major tackling upgrade, and Boye Mafe will be an upgrade on the edge, but this wasn't a team that looked like it was one very good defensive tackle away from stopping the run in 2025.

It's also fair to say that Lawrence didn't have a great year as the best player on a very bad defense. And now, the Bengals are paying a premium to make Lawrence the best player on what has been a very bad defense in Cincinnati in the hopes that he'll turn it around. That same move failed to turn around the Cowboys with Williams.

And that premium is going to cost Cincinnati a lot. Lawrence already wanted a new contract before the trade, and giving up the 10th pick only reaffirms that the Bengals see Lawrence as a superstar defender. Duke Tobin & Co. will have made this trade knowing that a new deal is going to be on the way for Lawrence. They're not going to end up in another Hendrickson-style staring contest all summer.

Lawrence shouldn't have the leverage to land anything in the ballpark of the $50 million average annual salary that Will Anderson Jr. reportedly signed as part of his deal with the Texans. But the top of the defensive tackle market hasn't shifted since 2024, when Chris Jones signed a deal worth $31.8 million per year to stay with the Chiefs. Five edge rushers have topped that figure since then.

Adjusting for the rise in the salary cap, matching Jones' deal would cost the Bengals just under $38 million per season. Would Lawrence try to push for $40 million per year? Would the Bengals really be able to justify saying no? If you throw in the opportunity cost of trading away the 10th pick and the chance of adding a young, difference-making defender on a rookie deal for four years, that adds another $10.6 million per year to the Lawrence trade's price tag. Factor that implied cost in, and Lawrence could end up being a $50 million-per-year player, which makes anything short of superstardom a disappointment.

Of course, both Bengals fans and executives might wonder if there have ever been difference-makers in the draft for them on defense. In the early days of the Joe Burrow era, the Bengals spent heavily on defense in free agency and built their offense through the draft. As those offensive standouts earned second contracts and re-signing them got more expensive, Tobin's plan was to rebuild the defense through the draft, just as Howie Roseman has done in recent years with the Eagles.

Those picks have mostly been disastrous. The Bengals have used 10 top-100 picks on defenders since their 2021 run to the Super Bowl. The only surefire hit has been cornerback DJ Turner II. Dax Hill has been solid when healthy, and the jury is still out on their 2025 picks, but players such as Cam Taylor-Britt, Zachary Carter and Kris Jenkins Jr. have been major disappointments. If the Bengals had nailed any of their defensive tackle picks, they wouldn't be trading for Lawrence today.

You can understand why the Bengals feel desperate. They've continued to commit resources in the draft to their front seven with disappointing results. They fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo and replaced him with Al Golden, but that didn't fix Cincinnati's problems. They didn't have Hendrickson for most of 2025, and he left for the Ravens in free agency last month. The money that might have gone to Hendrickson went to Mafe and Cook instead, and now, they're taking on another large contract by trading for Lawrence. They're desperate because they want to win, of course, but there's another party they also want to please.

4. The Bengals want Burrow to be happy.

This isn't the NBA. It's much more difficult for players to force their way out of situations that aren't tenable or enjoyable in the NFL. And Bengals fans who saw their team land on a wildly successful and charismatic quarterback with the first pick understandably don't want to even broach the idea that their market is just some stopover point before Burrow moves on to brighter lights in a bigger city.

And yet, there's a reason trade talk swirls around Burrow but not around Josh Allen in Buffalo or Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City, neither of whom is in one of the league's biggest or most prominent media markets. The Bengals have not been able to consistently surround Burrow with what he needs to win. Although they did get deals done with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, Burrow's top two receivers, the defense simply hasn't been good enough. Burrow played MVP-caliber football in 2024 and had one of the best seasons ever by an NFL quarterback who missed the postseason. He dealt with injuries in 2023 and 2025, and the Bengals went 5-11 in the games Burrow missed those years.

The Bengals have a perception of being particularly cheap, but I'm not sure that's really borne out in terms of on-field spending. Between 2022 and 2025, they were 22nd in the league in cash spending, ahead of teams like the Seahawks (30th) and Rams (32nd). They project to be eighth in cash spent this year, a figure that should rise even higher if Lawrence signs a deal with a massive signing bonus. Their investment off the field, particularly in scouting, might still lag behind the rest of the league, but there's a competitive amount of cash being poured into the roster itself.

Last year, Burrow looked enviously toward the Eagles and suggested that Philadelphia "pays everyone." Although that's not actually true, you can understand why Burrow would look at other organizations and see them paying for a quarterback, a standout receiver or two, and

difference-makers on both sides of the football.

Nobody can accuse the Bengals of being cheap in making this trade for Lawrence. I'm just not sure it's the best use of their resources, even if the former Giants tackle is likely to deliver a better defense in 2026 than whomever the Bengals were going to take at No. 10. I wonder whether signing Hendrickson when he wanted a new deal, using a first-round pick on a defensive tackle a year ago and holding on to this 2026 first-rounder would have been more cost-effective and returned a better defense in the process.

There's another Burrow quote I keep coming back to, though: "The [Super Bowl] window's my whole career." Burrow said that entering the 2022 playoffs. He hasn't been back to the postseason since. Whatever the Bengals have done to try to fix their problems or plug their holes over that time frame has generally made things worse. This is a win-now move from a team that has a player who thinks he can win every year.

If it doesn't work, I wonder whether there's anything else the Bengals will be able to do to convince Burrow that he's in the right place to win on an annual basis. And if Burrow completely loses faith in the organization, well, we've seen how that's gone before in Cincinnati.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48527148/2026-nfl-trade-dexter-lawrence-bengals-giants-first-round-draft-pick-takeaways

The NFL changes faster than any other league. A team can miss the playoffs one year and become a championship threat the next. One big trade, one elite free-agent signing, or one smart roster move can completely shift the balance.

That is especially true in 2026. Several teams already have franchise quarterbacks, playoff experience, and strong coaching staffs. Most of them also fixed major roster weaknesses over the last two seasons. Still, every contender has one clear hole holding them back from becoming a complete Super Bowl team.

Some rosters need more offensive strength. Others need another pass rusher or secondary help to get going on deep playoff runs. Actually, the margin between a Wild Card exit and a Super Bowl appearance is now very small.

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Quarterback play matters more than ever. Defensive pressure still decides playoff games. At the same time, good receivers and shutdown corners can completely change January games.

A few franchises are already very close. They do not need a full rebuild or massive changes. One final move could push them into the top teams of the league.

So let’s have a look at the five NFL teams that look one move away from true Super Bowl contention heading into the 2026 season.

5. Los Angeles Chargers

5. Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Chargers running back Kimani Vidal (30) recovers a fumble from Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) during the third quarter against the New England Patriots in an AFC Wild Card Round game at Gillette Stadium. Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

One move away: Add an elite WR1

The Los Angeles Chargers already have the most important piece in place: a franchise quarterback. Justin Herbert continued to prove himself as one of the league’s best passers in 2025. He threw for 3,727 yards and 26 touchdowns despite constant pressure behind an offensive line that still struggled at times. Taking 54 sacks would slow down most quarterbacks, but Herbert still kept the offense competitive throughout the season.

Things started improving after Jim Harbaugh took over. The offensive line looked more organized, the defense played tougher football, and the team finally developed a stronger identity. The Chargers no longer look directionless. They now look like a serious playoff team.

The biggest issue is the receiving group. Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and Tre Harris combined for only 1,848 receiving yards last season. That production is solid, but it is not enough to compete with elite AFC contenders in the playoffs.

Teams like Kansas City, Seattle, and Philadelphia have defenses capable of shutting down balanced offenses that lack a true superstar receiver. The Chargers need a player who forces defenses to change their entire game plan.

Trade rumors involving Tyreek Hill have already surfaced this offseason. A move like that could completely transform the offense. Herbert already throws the ball at an elite level. Give him a true deep threat, and the Chargers instantly become one of the AFC’s most dangerous teams.

4. Washington Commanders

4. Washington Commanders

One move away: Add another elite edge rusher

The Washington Commanders rebuilt much faster than most people expected. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels immediately changed the direction of the franchise and gave the offense explosive potential. Expectations around the league are now much higher entering the 2026 season.

The offense looks ready to compete. Now the defense needs one more major addition.

Modern NFL contenders win with pass rushers. The best playoff defenses create pressure without constantly blitzing, and Washington still needs another elite edge rusher who can consistently win one-on-one battles.

The team already improved its defensive depth this offseason and added more speed across the roster. Even with those upgrades, the defense still lacks a dominant pass rusher who can completely take over games.

Adding a proven double-digit sack player before training camp could elevate this defense into one of the NFC’s best units. Daniels already gives Washington star-level upside on offense. One elite defender could finally balance the roster enough for a serious Super Bowl push.

3. Green Bay Packers

One move away: Add a true WR1

The Green Bay Packers already have one of the NFL’s deepest and most balanced rosters. Jordan Love continues developing into a reliable franchise quarterback, while the offensive line remains strong and dependable. The coaching staff also does a great job creating explosive plays through scheme and creativity.

Defensively, Green Bay looks like one of the NFC’s most complete teams. However, there is still one missing piece on offense.

The Packers do not have a true No. 1 receiver.

During the regular season, spreading the ball around works well. Playoff football is different. Eventually, every contender needs a star receiver who can beat elite cornerbacks in critical moments.

Right now, Green Bay lacks that type of player. The offense sometimes struggles on important third downs and inside the red zone against stronger defenses. Those situations often decide playoff games.

A true WR1 would completely change the offense. Love needs a dependable target in late-game situations, and defenses need someone they fear enough to double-team every snap.

One elite receiver could take the Packers from a dangerous playoff team to a legitimate Super Bowl favorite.

2. Cincinnati Bengals

2. Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates after sacking Pittsburgh Stealers quarterback Russell Wilson (3) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Stealers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025.

One move away: Add another elite pass rusher

The Cincinnati Bengals remain one of the NFL’s strangest contenders because their offense looks championship-ready, while the defense still raises major concerns.

Joe Burrow continues playing at an elite level, and the receiver duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins remains one of the best in football. Few teams can match Cincinnati’s offensive firepower.

The problem is the defensive front.

Salary cap pressure created several roster issues over the last few years. The Bengals already tried fixing the pass rush this offseason by adding players like Dexter Lawrence and Boye Mafe. Even after those additions, the defense still needs another dominant edge rusher.

That weakness becomes even more dangerous in the AFC, where every playoff path likely runs through quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Herbert.

Cincinnati cannot survive by winning shootouts every week. One elite pass rusher would help the entire defense by creating more pressure, forcing mistakes, and making life easier for the secondary.

The Bengals already have enough offensive talent to compete for a title. They just need a defense capable of holding up in January.

1. Detroit Lions

One move away: Add another lockdown cornerback

The Detroit Lions look closer to a championship than almost any other team in football.

They already built one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, and Jared Goff continues playing efficient football within the system. The offense remains balanced, explosive, and difficult to stop.

The defense has also improved significantly over the last two seasons. The front seven now looks capable of controlling games and pressuring quarterbacks consistently.

The secondary, however, still feels like the roster’s biggest weakness.

In today’s NFL, elite playoff offenses attack weak cornerbacks immediately. Detroit already has the pass rush needed to pressure quarterbacks, but the team still needs another lockdown corner who can handle top receivers during postseason matchups.

The Lions clearly believe their championship window is open right now. They have veteran leadership, playoff experience, offensive firepower, and physical toughness on both sides of the ball.

One more elite cornerback could complete the roster and finally push Detroit into true Super Bowl contender status.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nfl/5-nfl-teams-one-move-away-from-super-bowl-contention/ar-AA23G6Tm?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=6a0f00f6435c47e982044b1be3fdd45a&ei=74

By Josh Alper

Published May 21, 2026 07:02 AM

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow thinks he’s surrounded by more talent than at any other point in his NFL career and that has him thinking big about the kind of numbers he’ll be able to put up this season.

Burrow was asked at a Wednesday press conference if there are any individual milestones he’s targeting during the 2026 season.

“I’m pretty close to the Bengals franchise touchdown record. I’m like 50 or something away, so that would be nice to break this year,” Burrow said.

Burrow is actually 47 touchdown passes away from tying Andy Dalton’s franchise record. Only five quarterbacks have reached that number in a single season — Peyton Manning did it twice — so the odds would favor Dalton holding onto the mark for at least one more year, but pulling it off would help Burrow’s chances of reaching another goal. He said he’d like to win an MVP “eventually” and putting that many points on the board would likely mean he’s put up that kind of season.

Joe Burrow not surprised Trey Hendrickson signed with Ravens

By Charean Williams

Published May 20, 2026 05:37 PM

Edge rusher Trey Hendrickson was never going to re-sign with the Bengals once he hit free agency. The only question was: Where was he going to sign?

Hendrickson ended up with the Ravens, a day after Maxx Crosby failed a physical with Baltimore to negate a trade with the Raiders.

On Wednesday, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow reacted to his former teammate landing with an AFC North rival.

“Not very surprising,” Burrow said, smiling, via Shelby Dermer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. “I know Trey. I love Trey. I just know how he operates.”

Burrow and Hendrickson were teammates for four seasons, but both were injured last season. The quarterback played only eight games and the edge rusher seven, which are big reasons for the Bengals’ 6-11 record last season.

Both are now healthy, and if they stay that way, Hendrickson will chase after Burrow for two games this season. The teams are scheduled to meet Oct. 25 in Baltimore and Dec. 31 in Cincinnati.

“That’ll definitely be fun,” Burrow said.

But Burrow said it’s always fun when the Ravens and Bengals play, regardless.

“Any time we play the Ravens, that one is circled,” Burrow said. “That goes back years when Lamar [Jackson] and I were a lot younger. That’s always a battle when we get after it.”

Joe Burrow: This is the most talented roster since I’ve been in Cincinnati

By Josh Alper

Published May 20, 2026 03:00 PM

Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow said earlier this week that the team has “everything we need” to contend for a Super Bowl title and he doubled down on his belief in the team’s capabilities at a press conference on Wednesday.

The Bengals spent the offseason targeting additions to their defense and added defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, edge rusher Boye Mafe, safety Bryan Cook, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, second-round edge rusher Cashius Howell, and third-round cornerback Tacario Davis to the unit. The result is a group that Burrow feels stands apart from the teams he’s been on since he came to Cincinnati.

“I think this is the most talented roster that we’ve had since I’ve been here . . . We got guys that work really hard to put themselves in position to perform well, perform to our standard,” Burrow said. “We haven’t necessarily done that for a couple of years, so we brought some guys in who have been there and done that and have their own standard of play and are going to live up to that. Now we just have to come together as a unit and do it as a collective.”

Health has been another shortcoming for the Bengals in recent seasons and there’s no way to know how things will play out on that front come the fall. If it does, the talent on hand should position the Bengals for better results than the ones that left Burrow despondent near the end of the 2025 season.

Joe Burrow: We have everything we need

By Charean Williams

Published May 18, 2026 08:12 PM

Joe Burrow expressed his frustration at the end of an injury-plagued 2025 season. The Bengals quarterback said he needed to have fun if he was going to keep playing football.

Missing nine games wasn’t fun, and neither was the team missing the postseason for a third consecutive season.

Burrow, though, is satisfied with what the Bengals have done this offseason in attempting to rebuild their defense.

“They’re going to keep getting great players to come play for the Bengals, and when they do that, then it’s my job and Zac’s job and the leaders of this team to bring the locker room together and then go execute on the field,” Burrow said Monday, via Geoff Hobson of the team website. “We have everything we need.

“We made a big trade for a big-time player. Signed a free agent top safety on the market and other additions. We’ll see how the rookies end up. . . . But first impressions, we’ve got guys that care about the game, care about their job, and want to be great. When you have young guys like that and veterans like we do, it’s a recipe for success.”

Burrow pointed specifically to the acquisitions of defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence, safety Bryan Cook and edge rusher Jonathan Allen.

“You can feel the vibe and the leadership has changed in the locker room a little bit,” Burrow said. “It’s exciting for everyone.

“B. Cook, in the limited time he’s been here, you can feel his presence early. Dexter, too. A lot of guys on the D-Line now. You have Jonathan Allen. Myles [Murphy] is walking around with a little more pep in his step this year. That’s exciting to see. I think he grew in confidence from the last five, six games. We need to carry that over, and I’m excited to see that.”

The Bengals have seven consecutive 1 p.m. starts to open the season, a first in Burrow’s seven seasons.

“That’s good. When we go on the road, we get back home early and watch more football,” Burrow said. “It’s always beneficial to watch more games. See how teams are playing and what teams are doing. See what defenses are doing.

“We’ll try to get flexed a couple of times into the sweet spot later in the season. Everybody feels like this is going to be an exciting season for us, so now we put in the work over the next several months to put the pieces in place to get to where we want.”

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/cincinnati-bengals

is all of this correct?

TOTAL ACTIVE ON HAND: 5ML

1ML of ACTIVE = 1,000mg of doses

4MG of dosage = 1G comparative to psylocibin mushrooms experience

1DOSE of disposable = 4MG

DISPOSABLE HARDWARE:

Each disposable should be about 50MG total = 12.5 1g mushrooms experience equivalents.

Each 3ML disposable is roughly 100 puffs

Each 4ML disposable = 133 puffs

Each 5ML roughly 166 puffs

DILUTION PLAN: Dilute via PG or VG, likely VG for viscosity and suspending active.

If we dilute the 5ML into 50ML for easier mixing/dosing:

Then 1ML = 100mg, thus each disposable would get .5ML of diluted active per disposable

OR

If we dilute the 5ML into 100ML for easier mixing/dosing:

Then 1ML = 50mg, thus each disposable would get 1ML of diluted active per disposable

Remaining space filled with flavoring for the user experience.

DOSING GUIDELINES:

if using 100 Puff device:

3-5 puffs for light mood elevation

6-10 puffs for mild visuals + moderate mood enhancement

11-15 puffs for modest visuals + considerable mood elevation

20+ puffs = energetic visuals + extreme mood elevation

50 puffs = enjoy your new galaxy.