Amarius Mims dominates Rueben Bain Jr. to validate Dan Pitcher's massive Week 1 hype

Rueben Bain Jr. wasn't exactly the bane of Amarius Mims' existence in Week 1. The Cincinnati Bengals right tackle locked down the Bucs' first-round rookie as Mims and his mates rolled to a 33-27 win at Paycor Stadium to kick off the 2026 season.

Anyone who knows ball and watched the Bengals' offensive line last season understands that the unit, which returns all five starters, was already quite good despite its preceding, notorious reputation. What perhaps even fewer NFL casuals know is just how good Mims has the potential to be.

Cincinnati offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher tried to tell the people before Week 1 began how good Mims could be. Perhaps seeing is believing. And Mims provided visual belief in spades versus Bain.

Pitcher's prophecy appears to be coming true for Mims

It was easy to miss amid all the Week 1 fanfare, the far bigger names on the roster, and the deserved focus on all the reinforcements the Bengals added on defense. But this is what Dan Pitcher said about Amarius Mims only five days ago, via CLNSCincy.com's Mike Petraglia:

"I think Amarius is well on his way to being one of the best tackles in our league, and I think he has to keep on the path that he's on right now. But I love what he's shown, and I know there's a lot of really good players on our offense, and maybe that speaks to my expectations and my belief in him that his name is the first one that popped in my head. But I think he's gonna be really good."

For someone like Pitcher who knows what exceptional players look like, having long coached the likes of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and other studs, that's quite an endorsement for Mims there.

The data doesn't lie, either, as Bain and any other Bucs pass rusher who lined up opposite Mims in the season opener can attest to:

Mims was a first-round pick in 2024 and only played as a rookie because Trent Brown went down with an injury in Week 3. Brown was starting for the Texans in the playoffs last season, which made me continue to wonder whether drafting Mims was the right call back then.

All's well that ends well, right? Because Mims, a 6'8" 350-pound behemoth, is really starting to put it all together. His 84.8 PFF pass blocking grade was the best on Cincinnati's o-line in Week 1.

Amarius should soon be the premier player on underrated Bengals offensive line

While Amarius Mims obviously deserves his flowers, the entire offensive line did an outstanding job picking up some complex schemes and pressures that are typical of Bucs head coach Todd Bowles.

Has Burrow taken way too many hits throughout his career? Yes. Is the personnel in the trenches miles better than the fellas Joe Shiesty dragged to elite offensive output, Super Bowl LVI, and another AFC title game, vastly superior to what he's learned to survive with to date? Also yes.

We just didn't get to see Burrow in action as much behind this wildly upgraded o-line last year due to his major turf toe injury. That's why outsiders are sleeping so much on Mims and Co.

However, when Burrow was in the lineup during the 2025 season, he had a 5-3 record and a 100.7 passer rating despite the Bengals' dreadful defense not doing him any favors.

As is the case with many accurate, positive-skewing Bnegals narratives, the national media will catch up someday, or maybe never. I don't think any talking head even knows who Amarius Mims is yet. And that's OK. They'll find out soon enough.

It's just hilarious that Rueben Bain Jr. and his short arms were in such a blender against the far lengthier Mims. Cheer up, rook! You won't be the first man that happens to this year. Far from.

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