CINCINNATI (AP) — Ryan Fitzpatrick made a good initial impression with Tampa Bay, completing his first series with a 6-yard touchdown run, before the Cincinnati Bengals pulled away to a 23-12 victory over the Buccaneers on Friday night.
The 34-year-old quarterback signed a one-year deal for a chance to back up Jameis Winston. Fitzpatrick had mixed results after his TD, going 6 of 13 overall with an interception. He also scrambled twice for 15 yards. Fitzpatrick lost the ball while trying to throw, but recovered his fumble.
Ryan Griffin — Tampa Bay’s third-string quarterback the past two seasons — left in the fourth quarter with a shoulder injury and didn’t return, forcing Fitzpatrick back into the game.
Tampa Bay opened the game with a 14-play, 92-yard drive, but had to settle for a field goal after Adam “Pacman” Jones broke up a pair of Winston’s passes in the end zone. Jones is suspended by the NFL for the season opener because of his offseason arrest.
Bengals coach Marvin Lewis was on the sideline after missing a practice last week because of a knee problem.
Andy Dalton had his full complement of receivers — A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert have returned from significant injuries last season — and moved the offense smoothly on Cincinnati’s opening drive before making a bad decision. Vernon Hargreaves III anticipated Dalton’s sideline throw and picked off a pass at the 1-yard line.
Dalton had plenty of time to throw behind Cincinnati’s reconfigured line.
“I just wish I could have that last play back,” said Dalton, who was 4 of 5 for 38 yards on his only drive.
Green, who missed the last half of last season with a hamstring injury, had a pair of catches for 21 yards.
Both teams have kicker competitions that were in the spotlight in their preseason opener.
Roberto Aguayo made a 20-yard field goal on Tampa Bay’s opening possession, but he was wide right on a 47-yard try and hit the right upright on the extra-point attempt. Nick Folk was good from 45 yards on his only chance.
The Bengals’ kickers were perfect. Randy Bullock made field goals of 54 and 49 yards and his extra-point try. Jake Elliott, who was drafted in the fifth round, connected from 45 yards and also made an extra point.
INJURIES:
Buccaneers: CB Brent Grimes (leg) and C Ali Marpet (ankle) sat out. RB Russell Hansbrough left in the fourth quarter to be evaluated for a concussion.
Bengals: RB Giovani Bernard was held out along with first-round pick WR John Ross, who is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Bernard has fully practiced in camp while recovering from ACL surgery midway through last season.
ROOKIE WATCH:
Buccaneers: TE O.J. Howard, the 19th overall pick, didn’t have a catch, with only one pass thrown his way.
Bengals: RB Joe Mixon had several nice runs, avoiding tacklers to get extra yards. He carried six times for 31 yards and turned his only reception into an 11-yard gain by slipping through a pair of attempted tackles. He’s competing with Jeremy Hill for playing time.
UP NEXT
Buccaneers: Play at Jacksonville on Thursday.
Bengals: Host Kansas City next Saturday.

Tampa Bay    3    6    3    0    =    12
Cincinnati    0    6    14    3    =    23
First Quarter
TB—FG Aguayo 20, 8:41.
Second Quarter
Cin—FG Bullock 54, 9:12.
TB—Fitzpatrick 6 run (kick failed), 2:51.
Cin—FG Jak.Elliott 45, 1:04.
Third Quarter
Cin—Driskel 18 run (Bullock kick), 10:55.
TB—FG Folk 45, 7:46.
Cin—Malone 8 pass from Driskel (Jak.Elliott kick), :44.
Fourth Quarter
Cin—FG Bullock 49, 2:48.
A—44,495.
———
TB    Cin
First downs    23    19
Total Net Yards    330    316
Rushes-yards    28-106    36-140
Passing    224    176
Punt Returns    1-22    3-4
Kickoff Returns    3-72    1-21
Interceptions Ret.    1-0    1-37
Comp-Att-Int    23-40-1    17-22-1
Sacked-Yards Lost    2-8    2-8
Punts    4-46.5    2-52.0
Fumbles-Lost    1-0    0-0
Penalties-Yards    6-46    4-40
Time of Possession    28:00    32:00
———
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING—Tampa Bay, C.Sims 3-23, Barber 8-21, Fitzpatrick 2-15, McNichols 2-12, Liufau 3-12, Martin 4-11, Rodgers 4-11, B.Sims 1-3, Hansbrough 1-(minus 2). Cincinnati, Driskel 5-34, Carson 8-32, Mixon 6-31, J.Hill 7-26, J.Williams 5-9, St.Williams 2-5, Erickson 1-3, Whitfield 1-1, McCarron 1-(minus 1).
PASSING—Tampa Bay, J.Winston 9-13-0-99, Fitzpatrick 6-13-1-45, Griffin 4-9-0-57, Liufau 4-5-0-31. Cincinnati, Dalton 4-5-1-38, McCarron 5-8-0-49, Driskel 8-9-0-97.
RECEIVING—Tampa Bay, M.Evans 4-58, Reedy 3-24, Cross 2-30, Brate 2-27, A.Johnson 2-15, Hansbrough 2-9, Martino 1-14, Godwin 1-14, Bo.Wilson 1-11, Westbrook 1-9, J.Huff 1-7, D.Jackson 1-6, Rodgers 1-5, Humphries 1-3. Cincinnati, Erickson 3-50, Green 2-21, Carter 2-14, Malone 2-12, Carson 1-23, Core 1-17, Whitfield 1-15, LaFell 1-13, Mixon 1-11, Boyd 1-8, Eifert 1-4, C.Brown 1-(minus 4).
MISSED FIELD GOALS—Tampa Bay, Aguayo 47.