The Browns and Buccaneers are struggling teams right now, both desperately needing improvements to even sniff competitor status this season, but a baffling coaching decision by Cleveland’s Todd Monken allowed Tampa Bay to grab a 9-6 lead at halftime. It was a head-scratcher that immediately put Cleveland behind the eight ball in a game where every yard feels like a battle.
The Call That Cost
Picture this: second quarter, 2:50 left on the clock. Cleveland’s defense is actually playing well, only giving up five first downs and snagging an interception off Baker Mayfield. So, what does offensive coordinator Todd Monken do when his team faces fourth-and-1 from their own 34-yard line? He goes for it, plain and simple. And it blew up in their face. Quinshon Judkins got the ball up the middle and was stuffed immediately for a turnover on downs. Just like that, Tampa Bay had the ball deep in Cleveland territory, a gift they didn’t deserve but happily accepted.
Offensive Woes All Around
Even with that gift, Tampa Bay’s offense looked… underwhelming. They managed to march down to Cleveland’s 11-yard line, but then stalled out with a screen pass that went backward and two incompletions from Mayfield. Credit to Chase McLaughlin, who salvaged the drive with his third field goal of the half, giving the Bucs their three-point lead.
Looking at the numbers from the half, it’s clear both teams are sputtering. Mayfield is 9-of-15 for a measly 45 yards and an interception. The Bucs have just seven first downs, 126 total yards, and are 3-of-8 on third down. But Cleveland’s offense is somehow worse. Deshaun Watson is 7-of-9 for 55 yards, with Harold Fannin’s 21-yard reception being the only highlight. Judkins has just 18 yards on nine carries because the Bucs’ defense is clearly keying in on him. Cleveland has a pathetic three first downs, 59 total yards, and an abysmal 0-of-6 on third down. Plus, they’ve racked up six accepted penalties for 50 yards. And somehow, they’re still in this thing. The defense is trying, with Grant Delpit, Ronnie Hickman, and Mason Graham each bagging a sack. But questions are swirling around Watson, who may be making his final start in an orange helmet.
The Buccaneers will get the second-half kickoff, a chance to really build on that slim lead. Both these teams have a mountain of improvements to make if they want to be contenders this season. We’ll see if Cleveland can overcome that baffling fourth-down decision, or if Tampa Bay can finally find some offensive rhythm.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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