Buccaneers Remain Level with Bengals 7-7 at Half

Through the first 30 minutes of play inside Paycor Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are tied with the Cincinnati Bengals at 7-7 in their preseason opener.

With their starting offense on the field, led by star quarterback Joe Burrow, the Bengals started quickly. The former Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller completed five of his seven passes for 71 yards, one of which was the 10-yard touchdown strike to Tee Higgins.

It was a fast start for the Bengals offense, which wasn't matched by a Buccaneers unit without many of their star players. The Buccaneers' first drive lasted just three plays before they were forced to punt, as Kyle Trask completed just one of his two passes.

However, the Buccaneers would eventually give their response. Following a quick three-and-out from the Bengals offense, Joe Burrow's day lasted just one drive before Jake Browning checked in; Trask would lead the Buccaneers 77 yards in eight plays, passing for 68 of those as he completed all five of his passes.

After Trask and the passing game set the Buccaneers' offense up in the redzone, it was Bucky Irving and the running game that finished it with a touchdown, as the Oregon product scored on a five-yard run.

Following another Bengals' three-and-out, it'd be the Buccaneers who made the first big mistake of the game as Trask's third-down pass was intercepted by Josh Newton. However, luckily for Trask and the Buccaneers, it didn't result in points for the Bengals, as they suffered another three-and-out.

Despite a nine-play, 34-yard drive in the two-minute drill, the Bengals couldn't pull out in front before the half, as Evan McPherson's 58-yard field goal was wide right.

Outside of the interception, Trask, the third-year quarterback out of Florida, has been rather solid. So far, he has completed 12 of his 20 passes for 145 yards as he led the drive to match the early Bengals touchdown.

For more on the preseason action between the Buccaneers and Bengals, follow along with our drive-by-drive live updates blog !