What is the story about?
Our beloved Barry Shuck will not be able to complete his weekly Brownies and Frownies for Weeks 2 and 3 of the Cleveland Browns 2026 season. That means you are stuck with Jared for Week 2’s game versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Can the Browns perform better in Week 2 after getting destroyed in Week 1?
Facing off against their former top overall pick, QB Baker Mayfield, Cleveland was not facing a vengeful player, but had a ton to prove after a terrible start to the season. With rumors that Shedeur
Sanders would likely replace Deshaun Watson in Week 3, unless the veteran could have a good game against the Bucs, a lot was on the line in Week 2.
After weathering (pun intended) a long delay, the Browns pulled off a huge victory over the Bucs, 23-19.
Week 2 Winners – Brownies
- DT Mason Graham – The second year lineman, and GM Andrew Berry’s top pick in 2025, just keeps making plays with his second sack of the year, after just a half sack last year. Graham also was a big part of pushing the pocket throughout the game, adding three tackles with his sack.
- DE Derek Barnett – Far from perfect, the veteran late addition lost contain early in the game, but was a stable presence on the outside, helping to create uncomfortable pockets for Mayfield.
- WR Denzel Boston – Joining some history in Week 2, Boston not only had the big 55-yard touchdown, but was a reliable receiver on important downs for his quarterback. Boston’s size and smooth route running make him an easy target, and his hands make him a QB’s best friend. Boston had the most receiving yards in the game (95).
- QB Deshaun Watson’s 2nd half after QB sweep for 1st down – Who knows what happens after Week 2, but when Watson took the snap and ran for eight yards on 3rd and 3 early in the third quarter, everything seemed to change. After that, Watson completed five straight passes before Boston had a touchdown pass dislodged in the endzone. For the game, the veteran had one of his best games in Cleveland: 24/30, 238 yards, and two touchdowns.
- CB Tyson Campbell’s toughness – The veteran cornerback didn’t practice Thursday and was limited Friday, but he came to play on Sunday, including a couple of big hits in the run game. Campbell left the game after a collision in the endzone, but tried to play after the two-hour delay anyway. The Browns didn’t need him for the win, but the former Jags cornerback is proving he is Cleveland tough.
- HC Todd Monken’s 4th quarter play call, Blake Whiteheart’s recovery – On 3rd and 2, Monken dug out a tight end leak play that took advantage of Tampa Bay trying to stop the quarterback run to the right. With everyone flowing one direction, Whiteheart blocked, then leaked out to the left to be wide open. Watson gave him a floater to catch, but Whiteheart almost fell down. Thankfully, the big tight end recovered his balance by putting his hand on the ground, and WR Jerry Jeudy sealed his defender to let Whiteheart score what ended up being the game-winner.
- Mayfield doubters – There should be no one who thinks Mayfield is a bad quarterback; he’s quite good and much better than anything Browns fans have seen since he departed. On the other hand, some fans doubt he is good enough to lead a team to a conference championship game. Sunday, after giving the game away in Week 1, Mayfield missed quite a few open receivers, mostly on overthrows, and had a bad interception. At least to start the 2026 season, those who doubted if Mayfield would ever be a Top 10 to 15 quarterback have been proven right.
- Browns fans – We are not the sad end of the jokes after Week 2. The weather delay didn’t end in ruin, something many of our commenters were concerned about while we waited it out together. Even before the clock hit 0:00, Cleveland fans enjoyed watching their team just be competent for once. A great thing and why we love sports and keep coming back for more.
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Week 2 Losers – Frownies
- World Series rain delay flashbacks – Listen, Cleveland should have won the 2016 MLB Championship and, while on a much lower scale, there were some flashbacks going on as the two-plus-hour delay ticked on. Thankfully, this delay ended much better, but the experience for fans brought back some bad memories.
- Fans’ afternoon/evening plans – I’m sure there were plenty of spouses, kids, and families, like mine, who were frustrated waiting for the game to end or at least to have an idea of what time the game would end.
- HC Todd Monken’s early aggression – Going for it in the first half, on your side of the field, and then running a slower run play, instead of a QB sneak or a quick hitter, gave Tampa Bay the ball almost in scoring position. Thankfully, the defense held them to just a field goal, but Monken’s 4th-down decision-making reputation as a head coach took another hit with a few decisions so far this season. Thankfully, like “Dumb and Dumber,” he totally redeemed himself in the very same game.
- S Ronnie Hickman – After not getting a long-term contract this offseason and settling for the qualifying offer from Cleveland, Hickman’s season has not started off well. Two missed tackles, one on a Mayfield scramble and another that would have been a sack, led to the Bucs first touchdown of the game instead of their fourth field goal.
- Tackling – It was just horrible most of the game, not just Hickman. DE Sam Williams started to celebrate despite the ball carrier still being on his feet. Defenders missing tackles left and right. Trying to thump ball carriers to the ground, instead of wrapping them. Some fundamentals need cleaned up.
- Pass rush until it mattered – Most of the game, Mayfield had a lot of time to make his decisions. Besides Graham and a few timely blitzes, the Browns pass rush just couldn’t get home. Until they did. Late in the game, Mayfield was mostly uncomfortable in the pocket. Perhaps the rain delayed refreshed the defense just enough.
- Shedeur Sanders’ only fans – If you follow the Browns because of Sanders and expected he would be starting in Week 3, your wish is unlikely to come true. By unlikely, it is not happening, at least in Week 3.
- “Deshaun Watson’s career is over” only fans – If you are a Cleveland fan that can’t stand Watson and thought maybe Week 2 would be his last game ever with the team, you might be disappointed, but you are probably a Browns fan who just wants their team to be good, so you are probably a winner either way.
- Mayfield champions – Understandably, it can be hard to have a fair opinion of Mayfield. While pretty much all Cleveland fans know he’s been better than Watson and anyone else the Browns have had at quarterback, there have been a handful who also think he’s a Top 10 quarterback. The start of the 2026 season has not backed that up.
Week 2 Quick thoughts – Dawg Bones
- Wow, that was a lot of fun – There were times when it was easy to get down, and we really saw it in the game chat, but the ups were so great. Given how bad the team has been, it can sometimes be easy to wallow in the poor plays, questionable decisions, and each individual incompletion or missed tackle. Thankfully, at the end of a full game, Browns fans get to celebrate. Victory Monday is coming.
- Those penalties – At one point in the first half, Cleveland had five penalties for over 40 yards. They ended the game with just six penalties for 50 yards, but they really need to work on the details. Penalties are costly, but extra costly when they bunch up close together.
- Defense needs to improve – A big interception and some key plays late were great, but Mayfield’s misses helped the Browns defense hold to field goals quite often. Week 3’s opponent, the Carolina Panthers, have scored 37 and 34 points in their first two games, with QB Bryce Young looking in command. Cleveland has to see a big home-field uptick in defensive performance.
- Nice to have weapons, options – It will be interesting which offensive weapon leads the team each week. Boston was the star this week, KC Concepcion had some strong production in Week 1, and Quinshon Judkins and Harold Fannin Jr. had some good plays this week as well. Sprinkle in Isaiah Bond and Jerry Jeudy an that is a fun group of offensive weapons for Browns fans to watch.
- Congrats to Todd Monken – First win as an NFL head coach.
- Rams Watch continues on MNF – Listen, even if Cleveland goes undefeated the rest of the way, that extra pick from the Los Angeles Rams is something we are going to pay attention to.
- AFC North Watch – The Bengals lead the division as the lone undefeated team, while the Pittsburgh Steelers look terrible on offense, and the Baltimore Ravens fell to the Saints. Would be nice to be 2-1 going into Thursday Night Football against the Steelers.
Who are your winners and losers for Week 2 Browns vs Bucs? How much different do you feel about Cleveland this week compared to last?
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