Todd Monken's fourth-down decision allows Bucs to take 9-6 halftime lead

The Browns and the Buccaneers both look like teams with a lot of improvements to make if they're going to be competitors this season.

But a poor coaching decision by Cleveland's Todd Monken allowed Tampa Bay to take a 9-6 lead at halftime.

When the Browns faced fourth-and-1 from their own 34 with 2:50 left in the second quarter, the club's defense had been playing well. The team had allowed just five first downs and picked off quarterback Baker Mayfield. But Monken still elected to go for it, calling a Quinshon Judkins run up the middle.

It was easily stuffed for a turnover on downs, giving Tampa Bay the ball deep in Cleveland territory.

But the underwhelming Buccaneers offense didn't do much with the opportunity. While the team advanced down to the Cleveland 11, the unit stalled from there with a screen pass that went backward, followed by two Mayfield incompletions.

Chase McLaughlin hit his third field goal of the half to give the Buccaneers a three-point lead.

Mayfield is just 9-of-15 for 45 yards with an interception. Tampa Bay has just seven first downs, 126 yards, and is 3-of-8 on third down.

Cleveland has registered three sacks — one each from Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, and Mason Graham.

On the other side, Cleveland's offense has done next to nothing. The team has just three first downs, 59 total yards, and is 0-of-6 on third down — and the Browns are somehow still in it. The club has also had several penalty issues, with six accepted for 50 yards.

Deshaun Watson, who may be making his final start in an orange helmet, is 7-of-9 for 55 yards. Judkins has 18 yards on nine carries, with the Tampa Bay defense clearly keying in on him. Harold Fannin has one 21-yard reception, which was Watson's best throw of the day so far.

The Buccaneers will have a chance to get things going early in the third quarter, as they'll receive the second-half kickoff.