Toronto Star
· collected 2026-09-20 · by Rob Maaddi The Associated Press
Deshaun Watson led the Cleveland Browns to a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, throwing two touchdown passes including the go-ahead score in the fourth quarter. The game was delayed due to lightning and featured a dramatic finish as Baker Mayfield’s final pass fell short of the goal line. Watson finished with 238 yards passing without turnovers and a high passer rating, outplaying Mayfield despite playing on his former team's home turf. This performance could secure Watson more starting opportunities for the Browns this season.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Sunday, Tampa Bay hosted Cleveland in an NFL game delayed by lightning for two hours and 12 minutes during the second half. After the delay, Deshaun Watson, who was traded from Cleveland to Tampa Bay last year, led a comeback victory with two touchdown passes, including the go-ahead score to Blake Whitehead. The Browns won 23-19 despite facing an 8.5-point favorite in the Buccaneers and suffering a disappointing Week 1 loss. Watson's performance silenced doubts about his starting job after posting no turnovers and completing 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards. Meanwhile, former Cleveland quarterback Baker Mayfield, now with Tampa Bay, struggled with one interception and only 176 passing yards in this homecoming game against Watson. The win improved the Browns' record to 1-1 while the Buccaneers dropped to 0-2.
Written for “Browns Vs Buccaneers Game Highlights” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 4 other(s) covering the same event.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Deshaun Watson earned at least a few more starts for the Cleveland Browns.
asserted
Watson → earn → Browns
Watson threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 17-yard toss to Blake Whiteheart in the fourth quarter, leading the Browns to a 23-19 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a game that was delayed two hours, 12 minutes because of lightning.
asserted
that → throw → lightning
The Buccaneers (0-2) were driving and had a second-and-4 at the Cleveland 28 when the game was suspended at the two-minute warning.
asserted
game → drive → warning
When it finally resumed, heavy rain started falling again.
asserted
rain → resume → ?
Bucky Irving ran twice and Baker Mayfield’s pass to Ted Hurst got the Bucs to the 13 before a holding penalty set them back.
asserted
penalty → run → them
Mayfield’s pass on fourth-and-10 from the 20 to Emeka Egbuka in the end zone was out of his reach, sealing the win for the Browns (1-1).
asserted
pass → seal → Browns
Watson outplayed Mayfield on his home turf in the first meeting between two quarterbacks who are linked together.
asserted
who → outplay → quarterbacks
Mayfield, who was selected No. 1 overall by the Browns in 2018, was traded to Carolina after a blockbuster trade brought Watson and his off-field troubles to Cleveland in 2022.
asserted
trade → select → 2022
He was eventually released by the Panthers during that season and played for the Rams before rejuvenating his career in Tampa Bay, where he has made two Pro Bowls and received a $165 million, three-year contract extension earlier this month.
asserted
he → release → extension
Watson is 10-11 in five seasons with the Browns and seemed to be running out of time as a starter with Shedeur Sanders waiting to take over.
asserted
Sanders → seem → starter
But his performance against the Buccaneers should quiet critics for now and give first-year coach Todd Monken confidence to stick with him.
asserted
performance → quiet → him
Watson connected with Denzel Boston on a 55-yard TD pass to tie it at 16 late in the third quarter.
asserted
Watson → connect → quarter
Boston caught a slant, broke three tackles and sprinted into the end zone.
asserted
Boston → catch → zone
Watson converted four times on third down on the drive that ended with his TD pass to Whiteheart that gave the Browns a 23-19 lead with 3:51 left in the game.
asserted
that → convert → game
Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin and Cleveland’s Andre Szmyt combined to go 7-for-7 on field goals.
asserted
McLaughlin → combine → goals
McLaughlin connected from 59, 45, 31 and 31 yards.
asserted
McLaughlin → connect → yards
Mayfield willed the Buccaneers into the end zone on the opening drive of the second half.
asserted
Mayfield → will → half
He stiff-armed his way to a first down on third-and-9.
asserted
He → arm → and-9
On the next play, Mayfield eluded a sack, stepped up and threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Egbuka, who had slipped and made the catch sitting on the ground.
asserted
who → elude → ground
Mayfield threw one interception that Cleveland turned into three points.
asserted
Cleveland → throw → points
The Bucs got their best field position at the Cleveland 34 after Elijah Roberts stopped Quinshon Judkins on fourth-and-1.
asserted
Roberts → get → fourth
But the drive stalled after Tampa Bay reached the 11 and settled for a field goal that made it 9-6.
asserted
it → stall → goal
S Ronnie Hickman left in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Hickman → leave → quarter
… CB Tyson Campbell left the game in the first half but returned.
asserted
Campbell → leave → half
Rookie LB Josiah Trotter was shaken up but walked off the field in the fourth quarter.
asserted
Trotter → shake → quarter
Up next
Browns: Host the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 27.
Buccaneers: Host the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 27.
asserted
Buccaneers → host → Sept.
The Aporia
