Baker Mayfield had circled this one on his calendar the moment the schedule dropped. A chance to stick it to the franchise that cast him aside. A shot at redemption against the team that chose Deshaun Watson over him. But Sunday's matchup with the Cleveland Browns didn't go according to script, and the bitter taste in Mayfield's mouth just got a whole lot worse.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers blew a double-digit lead, endured a lengthy weather delay, and ultimately fell to the Browns, dropping to 0-2 on the season. For Mayfield, the loss wasn't just another defeat—it was a painful reminder of what could have been, and what still isn't working in Tampa.
Speaking to reporters after the game, Mayfield didn't hide his frustration. When asked if the 0-2 start made the loss to his former team even more agonizing, he didn't mince words.
“It just stings more because we’re 0-2,” Mayfield said, via Buccaneers.com. “Frustrated because it’s close. You can feel it. You can see it. We’re moving the ball at times, and then just shooting ourselves in the foot. So, that makes it more frustrating when you know you’re right there.”
The Bucs cleaned up the turnover issues that plagued them in Week 1, but new problems emerged. Red-zone trips stalled, second-half drives fizzled into quick punts, and the defense couldn't hold the line when it mattered most. It's a recipe for frustration, especially when you know the talent is there.
Mayfield's personal stakes were high. He had openly admitted to circling this game after his unceremonious exit from Cleveland, and the emotional weight was clear. But the Browns, led by Watson, who has faced his own share of criticism, managed to pull out the win. Watson's performance, which included some clutch throws, only added to Mayfield's misery. It was a storyline that had Mayfield staying classy in the lead-up, but the result left him searching for answers.
The silver lining? The Bucs play in the NFC South, a division where the Panthers and Saints are hardly setting the world on fire. There's still time to turn things around, but the schedule ahead is daunting. Up next: the Vikings, Packers, and Cowboys—three teams with playoff aspirations and quarterbacks who can light up a scoreboard.
If Tampa Bay is going to salvage this season, they need Mayfield to find his rhythm and the offense to establish an identity. The pieces are there, but the execution has been lacking. As Mayfield put it, they're “right there”—but in the NFL, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.
The loss also reignites the debate in Cleveland, where some fans are already calling for a change at quarterback despite Watson's win. But for Mayfield, the focus is on his own team's shortcomings, not the what-ifs in Ohio.
For now, Mayfield and the Bucs are left to pick up the pieces. The sting of 0-2 is real, especially when it comes against the team that moved on from you. But as Mayfield knows all too well, the NFL season is a marathon, not a sprint. The question is whether Tampa Bay can find their footing before the race gets away from them.
