Cleveland Browns vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL Week 2 Live Updates, Highlights and Analysis

After getting drilled by the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1, the Cleveland Browns are still in Florida. Sunday, the Browns will take on a familiar face in Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The game is more than just the embodiment of the Deshaun Watson debacle. It's a make-or-break for Watson if he wants to remain the starter in Cleveland. An opportunity for the Browns to either shake off the stink of last week's beatdown or confirm the opinions of so many that the Browns are (again) among the worst teams in the NFL.

We won't get into which one this analyst thinks will happen—there will be plenty of time to be depressed once the game kicks off.

Once it does, keep it here at Bleacher Report for highlights and commentary as the Browns try to salvage a split from their Florida road trip.

And as Watson tries to salvage his career—because that's where we are.

Well, while we twiddle our thumbs, might as well take a quick tour of the division.

The Cincinnati Bengals are 2-0 for the second straight year after going to Houston and beating the Texans 20-6. The Bengals were outgained by over 100 yards, but Cincy's new-look defense kept Houston out of the end zone.

The Baltimore Ravens, on the other hand, were stunned at home by the New Orleans Saints 24-17. Baltimore's defense just couldn't get stops when they needed, allowing the Saints to convert eight-of-15 third downs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are similarly 1-1 after a listless 20-3 loss at New England. Pittsburgh managed just 235 yards of offense, and the Steelers now have one offensive touchdown in two games.

A weather delay is a pain in the rear end.

Scoring three points in the muck one week after piling up 59 points and losing your starting quarterback indefinitely is beyond brutal.

Regardless of how this game plays out, the Deshaun Watson decision just became a lot harder for Todd Monken.

If Cleveland hangs on for the win, it would be difficult for Monken to justify making a change. Watson's effort against the Buccaneers is one of his best as a member off the Browns—30 attempts, 24 completions, 238 yards and a passer rating above 120. He looked like an NFL starter.

If the Browns falter, fans will likely clamor for Shedeur Sanders. A large percentage of the fanbase wants no part of Watson no way no how. But Sanders has never looked as good over an entire game as Watson did in Tampa.

In this analyst's opinion, Watson has earned another start.

With that said, it's not my decision to make—and there's going to be 67,000 fans eager to voice their opinion on the subject next Sunday.

This may actually be a blessing in disguise for the Browns--the Buccaneers were moving downfield with relative ease.

Yes, you read that right. Don't be alarmed. This probably doesn't mean it's the Apocalypse.

The Browns just had far and away their best drive of the 2026 campaign--12 plays, 68 yards, multiple third-down conversions and a 17-yard touchdown pass from Watson to Blake "Who?" Whiteheart.

The Browns have their first lead of the season.

The Browns appear to have found themselves a player in second-round rookie Denzel Boston. The former Washington standout has five catches for 95 yards and a score for the second straight week.

A 49-yard pass from Baker Mayfield to Tez Johnson left the Buccaneers knocking on the door, but as has been the case most of this game Cleveland's defense stiffened, forcing another Chase McLaughlin field goal.

With 10 minutes to play, the Browns are still in it.

OK, so maybe I spoke too soon about the whole "one touchdown" thing.

The Browns actually have two for the season--both on long catches by Denzel Boston.

The second one admittedly had as much to do with terrible tackling by Tampa as the throw or catch.

But six points are six points--and we have ourselves a ballgame.

To be fair, Cleveland's offense had their best drive of the game after Tampa scored a touchdown--and it took an excellent defensive play to prevent rookie wide receiver Denzel Boston from hauling in a touchdown pass.

But the NFL is a results business--and seven quarters in the Browns have one offensive touchdown.

This was the nightmare scenario for the Browns--gifting Tampa a field goal just before the half and then watching the Buccaneers drive the length of the field to open the second half.

Cleveland is all about nightmares though, so that's exactly what happened--nine plays, 65 yards and a five-yard pass from Baker Mayfield to Emeka Egbuka.

In the first half against the Buccaneers, the Browns had 59 yards of offense--and 50 yards in penalties.

He's 6'4". 260 pounds. 25 years old. Answers to the name Jared Verse.

Part of the Myles Garrett trade, Verse was supposed to help soften the blow of Garrett's departure. Be an instant contributor for the Browns defensively.

Instead, Verse has been invisible--although he did get his first pressure of the season in the first half against Tampa.

That's right. Six quarters. One pressure.

Credit to the Browns for holding the Buccaneers to a field goal attempt after Todd Monken gifted them a short field. But Chase McLaughlin's field goal just before the half gives Tampa a 9-6 lead at the break.

90 minutes into the 2026 season, the Browns have led for exactly as much time as Browns fans have been happy.

A lack of situational awareness from rookie wideout KC Concepcion.

A lack of intelligence from head coach Todd Monken, who went for it on fourth-and-one from their own 35-yard line.

A complete lack of push from the offensive line.

After the Browns traded the second overall pick in 2025 to the Jaguars, the team used the fifth overall pick on Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham.

Graham was quiet statistically as a rookie, but he's taken it up a notch in 2026. His second quarter sack of Baker Mayfield was his second in as many games.

The Browns have a lack of discipline that would be funny if it wasn't so sad.

Another holding penalty put Cleveland in first-and-20. Then Watson got sacked (again) by Keionte Scott.

Just over halfway through the second quarter, Cleveland has 51 yards of offense.

The Browns got Tampa behind the sticks. Third and 18. And then promptly surrendered a 21-yard pass to rookie receiver Ted Hurst.

However, the Browns are also doing a far better job pressuring Mayfield than in Week 1, and a Ronnie Hickman sack forced the Buccaneers to punt.

This Browns team is absolutely maddening.

After the Harden interception gave the Browns excellent field position, Cleveland was moving the ball. But yet another penalty put Cleveland behind the sticks, Deshaun Watson was dropped by David Walker on third and long and the Browns had to settle for three again.

The penalties are inexcusable--and a sign of bad coaching.

Great job by young defensive back Myles harden of reading Baker Mayfield's eyes and picking off a pass that puts the Browns in business in Tampa territory.

Well, at least they aren't allowing touchdowns.

A 30-yard Bucky Irving run got Tampa into scoring range, but the Cleveland defense stiffened and the Buccaneers were once again forced to settle for a Chase McLaughlin field goal.

That's two scores in as many drives though.

The good news is that the Browns showed more life on their second drive than in the entire first half against Jacksonville, driving 40 yards in seven plays before a 50-yard Andre Szymt field goal tied the game.

The bad news is that the Browns were forced to settle for three after yet another pre-snap penalty.

Still, Cleveland answered Tampa's drive.

There's admittedly not a lot that a team can do when a kicker hits from 59 yards out.

But the Browns let their opponent score on their opening drive--again. And now Cleveland is in an early hole--again.

Three Cleveland penalties in the first two minutes of the game.

That's after 11 last week against the Jags.

To be fair, when the Browns moved on from Mayfield it was time. His level of play had stagnated, and he didn't handle the news that the team was going to pursue Deshaun Watson especially well.

But that doesn't make what has happened since any easier to stomach.

Deshaun Watson's raw stats last week against the Jaguars weren't terrible. But for once numbers do lie--Watson didn't play well and those stats were buoyed by a garbage-time TD.

Per Ian Rapoport of ESPN , the Browns plan to "re-evaluate" their quarterback situation after Week 2.

I'll save them the trouble. It stinks. Watson stinks. And when Shedeur Sanders inevitably gets the nod, he'll stink.

But unless Watson lights up the Buccaneers, the Browns cannot start him in the home opener against the Carolina Panthers.

Browns fans will--let's put it this way.

As a group, they have been known to throw things.