Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns had to wait out a two-hour weather delay before they could finish their comeback win over Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 23-19 victory at Raymond James Stadium silences the talk that had followed a brutal Week 1 loss for the embattled quarterback.
This week’s Tampa weather forecast carried the threat of lightning, high winds and torrential downpour. The storm struck at the worst possible moment, coming right after the Browns took their first lead of the game on a six-minute drive that ended with a Blake Whiteheart 17-yard touchdown.
Mayfield’s Revenge Game
Mayfield needed a reply. He faced the team that had picked him first overall before cutting him loose in favor of Watson, whom Cleveland had just traded for. With the Browns’ job on the line, Mayfield had to deliver with a touchdown drive of his own.
The Buccaneers’ own Week 1 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals did not go well. Mayfield had trouble with turnovers throughout that contest. After dropping that road game, the Bucs were desperate to get a win. Mayfield had to respond, and he came out determined to match the Browns’ drive with one of his own.
The Delay That Changed Everything
While a major storm system moved through Raymond James Stadium, heavy rain and lightning kept both teams locked in their locker rooms for over two hours, waiting for the weather to pass.
The game resumed at second-and-4 from Cleveland’s 28-yard line after the storm passed. When play finally continued, the Bucs started well with Bucky Irving picking up a first down.
But the Browns’ defense turned up the heat on Mayfield as the rain continued to come down. A costly holding penalty on second-and-4 pushed Mayfield and the offense back to Cleveland’s 23-yard line.
None of Mayfield’s attempts connected with his receivers. His last pass sailed beyond Emeka Egbuka’s reach. Watson and the Browns were already celebrating on the sideline.
Watson’s Numbers Hold Up
Watson finished the game 24-of-30 for 238 yards and two passing touchdowns. The first of those went to rookie Denzel Boston, who finished with a game-high 95 yards on five catches.
This performance is a marked improvement over the 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 1. It should be enough to secure Watson’s position as the team’s starting quarterback for now.
The Home Opener Test
Next week, the Browns play their home opener against the Carolina Panthers. Given the crowd’s reaction to Watson during the preseason, it will be telling to see how he is received now, provided he stays the starter.
A quarterback who has constantly faced questions about his job security made a statement with this performance. The Browns traveled to Tampa after an ugly loss in Week 1, and a comeback win over Mayfield — a quarterback who knows this franchise better than most — carries weight.
What the Buccaneers Face Next
Following an unfavorable beginning, Tampa Bay stays home for its Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings’ defense stifled the Chicago Bears during their own weather-affected contest on Sunday.
After dropping their Week 1 opener to the Bengals, the Bucs have little time to waste. A fresh start awaits them in Week 2, when they host the Browns.
The Schedule So Far
| Week | Game | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Browns vs. Jaguars | Loss |
| 2 | Browns at Buccaneers | Win |
| Browns vs. Panthers | Home opener |
What This Means for Watson
The first career win for Todd Monken as head coach is a footnote in this one, but Watson’s performance was the story. He managed the delay, he managed the comeback, and he managed the pressure of a job that many had questioned after Week 1.
The completion rate of 24 out of 30 and the 238 yards do not tell the whole story. The two passing touchdowns and the victory are the real achievements. He delivered the Browns their first lead of the game and kept it in place for two hours of waiting.
Whether the Cleveland crowd cheers or jeers Watson in Week 3 will be telling. The Browns host the Panthers, and the fans who booed him during the preseason will finally get to see him play live, no longer filtered through the preseason lens.
Watson’s job had been questioned after Week 1. He answered that doubt with a comeback win over Mayfield, and he did it in conditions that hit at the worst possible time for the Browns’ lead.
The home opener for the Browns comes next week, and the quarterback who led them to that point will be the one taking the field. The fans will be the ones to determine if the jeers from the preseason have turned into something else.
Source material: “Browns' Deshaun Watson may have silenced doubters after outlasting Baker Mayfield and 2-hour weather delay,” Fox News.
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