Deshaun Watson will apparently get a second chance – in Florida – to strengthen what seems like a very tenuous hold on Cleveland's QB1 job. After a lackluster, at best, preseason, Watson did little to inspire any confidence in skeptical Browns fans or (skeptical?) staffers following a 34-10 loss at Jacksonville, where his numbers didn't look nearly as bad as the product between the lines.
Who is awaiting Watson and Co. in Tampa? It's Baker Mayfield, the quarterback Cleveland took atop the 2018 draft and enjoyed moderate success with … before packaging him off to Carolina in 2022 in order to make way for Watson and the fully guaranteed, five-year, $230 million contract in a deal with Houston that's widely regarded as the worst trade in league
history.
And we all know how Mayfield, who admittedly still has friends within the Browns organization, tends to respond when he has an ax to grind. Of course, Mayfield can't afford fumble the ball three times and put the Bucs in a 21-3 hole, as he did in Cincinnati, if he expects to vanquish Ohio's other, if lesser, team. Getting more than 60 yards from Tampa Bay's running backs would also be a big help. But the Bucs will be facing a Browns defense that was shredded in Duval Country and registered just one sack in the first game of the post-Myles Garrett era.
Buccaneers vs Browns odds, moneyline, over/under
Opening lines:
- Spread: Buccaneers -7.5
- Moneyline: Buccaneers -380; Browns +350
- Total: 41.5
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Browns at Buccaneers score predictions
Adam Kaufman: Buccaneers 27, Browns 13
I love a good narrative, and Baker Mayfield arrives with two missions: rebound from an incredibly embarrassing ball-security performance against the Bengals and beat his former team for the first time. The Buccaneers are highly unlikely to lose four fumbles again, especially with Myles Garrett no longer coming off the edge for Cleveland. Trevor Lawrence just throttled the Browns with four touchdown passes in what would've been a shutout had the Jaguars not called off the dogs. Which brings us to Cleveland's offense. This might be Deshaun Watson's last opportunity. You'd think that would light a fire under him, but he may simply be washed.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz: Buccaneers 24, Browns 17
I might come to regret buying into the notion of the Browns averting another blowout. But given how much trouble the Buccaneers had in generating a pass rush against the Bengals as well as covering backs and tight ends, Todd Monken can try to minimize the ask of Deshaun Watson and actually cobble together some semblance of offensive competence. Cleveland's defense is far better than its performance against Jacksonville indicated, and Baker Mayfield's penchant for living dangerously could yield the turnovers the Browns require to keep this close, even if they come up short.
Nate Davis: Buccaneers 34, Browns 10
Sure feels like this could be a runaway, particularly if Mayfield is allowed to keep his foot on the gas against a seemingly compromised opponent, in a game that could usher Shedeur Sanders back into the Browns' huddle ahead of their home opener in Week 3. But Tampa Bay just needs to get into the win column after the perpetually underachieving NFC South collectively opened the season 0-4.
Richard Morin: Buccaneers 27, Browns 10
The question here isn't which teams wins the game — it's how badly the Buccaneers beat the Browns. Tampa Bay isn't exactly a world-beater (it lost its Week 1 game) but Cleveland is downright bad. I picked the Buccaneers last week, so I believe in them and I think Baker Mayfield is still a criminally underrated quarterback. This game should get them back to track. The Browns desperately need to move on from Deshaun Watson, but it doesn't look like that's happening anytime soon.
Where to watch Browns at Buccaneers
- Matchup: Buccaneers vs. Browns
- Date: Sept. 20
- Time: 1:00 p.m.
- Venue: Raymond James Stadium
- Location: Tampa, Florida
- TV: CBS
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Browns at Buccaneers: Predictions, picks and odds for NFL Week 2 game
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