Watson Leads Browns to 23-19 Comeback Win Over Buccaneers

Deshaun Watson threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 17-yard strike to Blake Whiteheart in the fourth quarter, as the Cleveland Browns overcame a 19-15 deficit to defeat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-19 on Sunday. The game, delayed more than two hours by lightning and later heavy rain, resumed with the Browns completing a 24-of-30, 238-yard passing performance and a 121.9 passer rating.

Coach Todd Monken said of Watson, "I'm so happy for him. Good for him. Good for 22 months working his (tail) off to get to where he's at. I'm gonna leave it at that."

Watson, who missed the previous season after tearing his Achilles tendon twice, finished the game without turnovers and added a 55-yard touchdown to Denzel Boston that tied the score at 16 in the third quarter. He later converted a fourth-down drive that set up the winning touchdown to Whiteheart with 3:51 remaining.

The Buccaneers, trailing 23-19, had a chance to tie late in the game but a fourth-down pass from Baker Mayfield to Emeka Egbuka fell incomplete, sealing the Browns’ victory. Mayfield, a former No. 1 overall pick by Cleveland, expressed frustration, saying, "We have to be self-critical, look at the tape, get stuff fixed and not make the same mistakes over and over."

Both teams’ kickers were perfect, with Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin converting four field goals and Cleveland’s Andre Szmyt making three. The Browns improve to 1-1 on the season and host the Carolina Panthers next week, while the Buccaneers remain winless heading into a matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.