TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Five seasons, three teams and a two-plus-hour weather delay later, Baker Mayfield is still waiting to exact some revenge against his old team.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers star remained winless against the Cleveland Browns after being outplayed Sunday by Deshaun Watson, the quarterback Cleveland acquired four years ago when the Browns decided Watson — not Mayfield — should lead the team in the future.
Mayfield completed 21 of 34 passes
for 182 yards and one touchdown, but was also sacked three times and threw a first-half interception that the Browns turned into three points as Cleveland went on to win 23-19. He was leading a potential game-winning drive when lightning and driving rain forced a 2-hour, 12-minute weather delay as the clock ticked down to the two-minute warning.
Mayfield was unable to finish the comeback when play resumed, marching deep into Browns territory before stalling and turning the ball over on downs at the 20-yard line with 18 seconds remaining.
“It stings more because we're 0-2,” Mayfield said, downplaying the disappointment of losing to the Browns, who drafted him No. 1 overall in 2018.
The ninth-year pro, who also lost to his ex-team when he was with the Carolina Panthers in 2022, was more concerned Sunday with what's gone wrong for Tampa Bay's offense. Mayfield lost three fumbles in an opening loss at Cincinnati.
“(I'm) frustrated because it's close. You can feel it. You can see it,” Mayfield said. “We're moving the ball at times, and then just shooting ourselves in the foot. ... We really have to be self-critical, look at the tape, get stuff fixed. We just can't keep making the same mistakes over and over.”
Tampa Bay coach Todd Bowles agreed. The Bucs have dropped nine of 11 games dating to last season.
“Nobody's coming to save us,” Bowles said. “We've got to fix ourselves, and we've got to fix it in a hurry.”
The Browns gave up on Mayfield after four inconsistent seasons that included one playoff appearance.
The 31-year-old quarterback split time between Carolina and the Los Angeles Rams in 2022 before joining Tampa Bay after Tom Brady retired in 2023.
With a rejuvenated Mayfield leading the way, the Bucs won consecutive NFC South titles in his first two seasons with the team. He was rewarded this month with a three-year, $165 million contract extension through 2029.
The Browns, meanwhile, have continued to flounder since signing Watson four years ago.
Sunday's performance, however, doesn't figure to hurt Watson's chances of holding on to Cleveland's starting quarterback job. He completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards and two TDs without an interception, finishing with a 121.9 passing rating to Mayfield's 73.4.
“I'm right where I'm supposed to be,” Watson said, describing his emotions after the win. “Leave the journey in God's hands, keep working hard, keep pushing forward and let the outcome be the outcome when it comes.”
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