Photo Credit: Cleveland Browns
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers dropped a heartbreaking 23-19 decision to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. The loss came during Tampa Bay’s home opener at Raymond James Stadium. The Bucs controlled much of the first half, but Cleveland stayed within striking distance. Neither offense found the end zone during the opening two quarters. Tampa Bay entered halftime with a 9-6 lead. Chase McLaughlin provided all three Bucs scores during the first half. McLaughlin connected from 59, 45, and 31 yards. Meanwhile, Cleveland kicker Andre Szmyt made two field goals.
The Browns struggled to move the football consistently early. However, their defense kept the game close throughout the opening half. Tampa Bay finally reached the end zone early in the third quarter. Baker Mayfield found Emeka Egbuka for a five-yard touchdown. That score pushed Tampa Bay’s led to 16-6 with 9:33 remaining in the third quarter. The Bucs appeared ready to take control of the game. Cleveland refused to go away, though. Szmyt added another field goal before Deshaun Watson finally sparked the Browns offense. Watson connected with rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston for a 55-yard touchdown. Boston’s big play cut Tampa Bay’s advantage to 16-16.
The Browns then carried that momentum into the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay briefly regained the lead after McLaughlin converted another 31-yard field goal. The Bucs held a 19-16 advantage with 9:58 remaining. Cleveland still had enough time to mount another comeback. Watson delivered again when Cleveland needed him most. He found tight end Blake Whiteheart for a 17-yard touchdown with 3:51 remaining. That touchdown gave Cleveland a 23-19 lead. More importantly, the Browns finally found a way to finish a game after struggling offensively early. Watson completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. He also avoided a turnover during the victory.
Boston led Cleveland with five receptions for 95 yards. His 55-yard touchdown provided one of the biggest plays of the afternoon. Mayfield finished 21 of 34 for 182 yards and one touchdown. He also threw one interception against his former team. The Browns defense also made several important plays against Mayfield. Cleveland recorded three sacks and intercepted one pass. Then, the game took another dramatic turn late in the fourth quarter. Lightning and heavy rain forced a lengthy weather delay with the Bucs driving. Tampa Bay had reached Cleveland’s 28-yard line with less than two minutes remaining. The delay lasted roughly two hours. That stoppage interrupted Tampa Bay’s final comeback opportunity.
Once play resumed, the Bucs still had a chance to steal the game. Tampa Bay moved closer to the end zone but could not complete the comeback. Mayfield faced fourth-and-11 with the game on the line. His final pass sailed over Emeka Egbuka in the end zone. Cleveland’s defense held on to secure its first victory of the season. The loss dropped Tampa Bay to 0-2 to begin the 2026 season. Cleveland improved to 1-1 after bouncing back from its Week 1 loss. For the Bucs, the defeat continues a difficult start. Tampa Bay showed flashes offensively but struggled to close the game. The defense also faced pressure after Cleveland found its rhythm late. Watson completed several important throws when Tampa Bay needed another stop.
Still, Tampa Bay had multiple opportunities to finish the game. The Bucs led 16-6 during the third quarter and 19-16 late. Instead, Cleveland scored the final touchdown and walked away with the victory. The result also added another chapter to the Mayfield-Watson storyline. Mayfield once played for Cleveland, while Watson took over the Browns quarterback job after Mayfield left.
This time, Watson got the better of the matchup. For Tampa Bay, the focus now turns toward Week 3. The Bucs need to find answers quickly after starting the season 0-2. The Cleveland loss showed that small mistakes can become costly in close NFL games. Tampa Bay had the lead twice in the second half. However, the Browns made the plays that mattered most. That difference ultimately decided a wild afternoon in Tampa. The Bucs will have another opportunity next week. They must now regroup and find a way to turn strong stretches into a complete four-quarter performance.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been a little disappointing this year losing two winnable games.
Author Profile
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Bradley Walker (VP) and Head of our Florida operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a host on The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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