Cleveland finally got their first win of the 2026 NFL regular season, but man, they made everyone wait for it. After an almost two-hour weather delay in Tampa, the Browns pulled off a wild 23-19 comeback victory against Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers, with Deshaun Watson absolutely flipping the script in the second half. This wasn’t some quiet win, this was a statement, especially after that brutal delay and early struggle.
The Weather Delay and a Slow Start
This whole game started messy. Inclement weather in Tampa pushed kickoff back by almost two hours. When they finally got going, it looked like the Browns had left their offense on the tarmac. They were down a whopping 16-6 in the third quarter, watching Baker Mayfield connect for a five-yard touchdown to Emeka Egbuka at the start of that very quarter. Honestly, it was a rough watch early on. The total yardage numbers tell a story too, with the Browns only racking up 267 total yards, compared to the Bucs’ 313. Talk about a slow start, right?
Watson Catches Fire, Mayfield Fizzles Out
Then, something clicked. Watson finally came alive in the second half, sparking a massive come-from-behind effort. He threw a ridiculous 55-yard touchdown pass to rookie Denzel Boston, a play that not only tied the game but completely swung the momentum in Cleveland’s favor. What a turnaround. Watson wasn’t done, though. He delivered the game-winning touchdown pass to Blake Whiteheart with just 3:51 left in the fourth quarter. Meanwhile, Mayfield, after that early third-quarter score, just couldn’t find his stride. He struggled for most of the contest, continuing that trend into the second half, missing a handful of overthrows, including a critical one on the Buccaneers’ closing drive. It let the Browns right back into it.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Watson finished the day looking solid, completing 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards, tossing 2 touchdowns and zero interceptions. The source even called it “one of his better games.” On the flip side, Mayfield completed only 21 of 34 attempts for a mere 182 yards, with just 1 touchdown and 1 interception. That 61.8 percent completion rate isn’t gonna cut it when you’re trying to close out a game. On the ground, neither team set the world on fire, with Quinshon Judkins getting 21 yards on 12 attempts for the Browns and Bucky Irving leading the Bucs with 89 yards on 17 carries. But the big plays, like Boston’s 95 receiving yards and Watson’s clutch passes, were the real difference makers.
What a finish for the Browns to secure their first W. They’re heading home now, with some serious momentum, ready for three of their next four games in their own stadium, kicking off with a Week 3 clash versus the Carolina Panthers. Tampa Bay and Mayfield have to regroup quick, hosting the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday. That second-half collapse is gonna sting for a while.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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