Browns Beat Writers Pick Bucs To Win
September 18th, 2026
On paper, the Bucs should mow through the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in Tampa Bay’s home opener.
What a glorious happening that would be for Bucs fans rattled by their team’s sloppy road loss at Cincinnati.
A resounding win will satisfy most fans; the Bucs squeaking out a hard-fought “W” will be problematic for those who hold the team to a high standard. The Browns are so bad, the Bucs will need a few style points on Sunday to keep the masses optimistic.
So what are Cleveland beat writers saying about the game?
Cleveland.com, the digital arm of The Plain Dealer newspaper, has three Browns beat reporters. Mary Kay Cabot is the big name and she has the Bucs winning 26-13. She noted she knows Baker Mayfield well enough to say he’ll be totally locked in after a bad Week 1 and the Browns lining up across from him.
Colleague Dan Labbe thinks the Browns aren’t as bad as they appear and will compete on Sunday. He picks the Bucs to win 26-19. Ashley Bastock says the Bucs will cruise to a 28-17 win. The Browns’ “across-the-board” collapse on defense in Week 1 isn’t something she can get past.
At ESPN Cleveland, iconic Tony Grossi said the Browns have “zero” chance of pulling off the upset: “I see no pathway to a Browns win here.” Grosso also isn’t picking the underdog Browns to cover the 8 1/2-point spread
(Tidbit … Grossi and Cabot were removed from the prestigious Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee this month as part of the Hall’s overhaul. Sage JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman made the cut when the committee was cut from 50 to 28, plus three alternates.)
Ira Kaufman Reads The Locker Room And Todd Bowles Vibes, Week 2 Predictions, His Hall Of Fame Status, And More
September 18th, 2026 at 3:08 pm
We’re doomed.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:10 pm
Hodad
You beat me to it.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Hodad: lol Only if the Bucs’ players read this stuff and believe it.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:12 pm
“We’re doomed.”
——
Lol – yes we are 🤣
Oh wait, you’re talking about football
September 18th, 2026 at 3:18 pm
I actually think the Browns are tanking the season
They are doing exactly the same things when Hue Jackson was HC
Doing their infamous tank season, getting the top pick to draft Baker
They want one of the top QBs in the 2027 draft
And they have the picks from the Myles Garrett trade also
I see a team that has some young talent on their roster
But they are missing talent at a few key positions, especially QB
The Bucs winning this game is no big deal
They will only be beating a teams that’s trying to lose
September 18th, 2026 at 3:21 pm
I remember the same statements before the Miami loss inn2025.
And yet here we are again. 2-8 in our last 10 games. Bowles survives to suck again.
I’m going to put a wager on the Browns as a Hail Mary to possibly get paid off.
Todd’s defense routinely makes backup quarterbacks look like Marino in his prime.
No way to lose to the Browns? Bowles says hold my beer.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:29 pm
I actually wish we were playing another possible contender (Cinci is a possible playoff team) instead of Cleveland.
Damned if we do damned if we dont as even a good showing will be met by a chorus of it was “only the Browns” by the poo crew.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:35 pm
Lakeland…
Doesn’t matter if they get the very first pick in the draft and pick the best QB out there. They’ll screw it up somehow and that same QB will be playing well for somebody else in 5 years.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:36 pm
I know our luck with making bad teams look awesome, especially our D making bu QB’s look like HOF qb’s….. yes, I would love to see us hold Cleveland to a few FG’s while we score 20+… but I know Todd and our luck….uhg! We should dominate, and I think we will, but I aint putting money on it!!!
And CALM DOWN BAKER!!!! calm down….play smart.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:37 pm
Bucs win but Browns will cover.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
If it’s a close game and we win, I too will still be disappointed.
If they win by more than two touchdowns, by 14-15 min points, I will be appeased. Nothing less. And how they win matters. No sloppy playing on offense or defense. How many Bucs players get injured? How many times are we being penalized? It all matters this Sun.
September 18th, 2026 at 3:39 pm
This is going to be sooo embarrassing!
September 18th, 2026 at 3:56 pm
As most of us, I have little faith in a solid win and feel this will be a close game. We had better seem some passion and solid football or the calls for Bowles head will be through the roof.
On paper we should win. Based on W/L record over the past 10 games, we should lose.
All eyes are on you Bowles!
September 18th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
What are the chances Todd’s defense revives Watson’s career on Sunday?
September 18th, 2026 at 4:31 pm
Oh good, can we stop seeing Anzalone play Fabio through the air, just to fall to the turf with no tackles. Can we have more Trotter, he’s my new favorite player. Can someone tell Bain to show up along with the rest of the defensive line. Let’s wake the offense up too, and please Mayfield ball security is a like doing your job, tell Irving to do the same.
Other than that hmmm 🤔
September 18th, 2026 at 4:32 pm
All I know is… for all the killer instinct talk from Bowles and Baker… if the Bucs go up 14, they better be trying to go up 28!
None of this conservative run the ball, play prevent D crap that will inevitably lead to a 14 pt gap becoming 6.
September 18th, 2026 at 4:52 pm
We never beat the bad teams. We usually end up making there quarterback look like an all pro.
September 18th, 2026 at 4:58 pm
Ask the Chargers how they feel about being big favorites at home. I think the point spread was exactly the same as ours. I’m a huge Bucs fan, but until they learn how to win again and do it consistently, I wouldn’t bet a dime on them even money line.
September 18th, 2026 at 5:15 pm
If you only beat the bad teams what does that make you?
September 18th, 2026 at 5:34 pm
Not predicting it, but here’s a scenario.
Bucs lose to the Browns on Sunday. Watson looks revived—-Kirk Cousins-Derek Anderson-Desmond Ridder-Kenny Pickett-PJ Walker-Gardner Minshew-Taylor Heineke-style.
Todd is fired Monday morning. Before you say the Glazer’s have never fired a coach mid season….they’ve never had their Yom Kippur spoiled by losing to the Browns.
Again, not predicting it. Just a scenario I’m definitely not predicting.
September 18th, 2026 at 5:45 pm
guaranteed loss, the browns will be fired up watson will look like joe montana- baker will throw three pics instead of three fumbles, bain will disappear. we will be up by 14 to start the fourth quarter but a baker interception followed by the browns converting 3rd and 38 as they march down the field and score the winning 2 pt conversion as time expires, only in tampa
September 18th, 2026 at 6:00 pm
NFL teams don’t “tanked”. Give me break. Todd Monken didn’t take the job to be embarrassed by tanking
Anyone who thinks this player, coaches and everyone else involved is purposely trying to lose is an idiot.
September 18th, 2026 at 6:07 pm
I have the Browns +8.5 and feel great about it for 2 reasons: 1) Todd 2) Bowles
September 18th, 2026 at 6:14 pm
Todd .Monken was hired to developed the 2027 QB they draft
Teams tank in all sports for higher draft picks, especially football and basketball
If a person thinks teams don’t think
They just naive
They don’t know how sports operates
September 18th, 2026 at 6:15 pm
***Don’t Tank****
September 18th, 2026 at 6:22 pm
The NBA has even created Anti Tanking Rules
September 18th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Lakeland was the kid who always was picked last in gym class,that’s all I can come up with…
September 18th, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Here’s your sign!
September 18th, 2026 at 6:46 pm
I get a migraine reading these comments. I wonder who has it worse the Bucs or browns fan? I know we have to be in the top of the list with the most negative fans
September 18th, 2026 at 6:50 pm
I predict @ least 20 of the commenters here will be disappointed with a solid win cause they’re bigger haters of the HC or QB than they are fans of the TEAM.
Pathetic 🤡s
September 18th, 2026 at 6:59 pm
Bucs are 2-8 over their last 10 games.
Browns are 3-7 over their last 10 games.
No idea why the Bucs are 8.5-point favorites when Baker isn’t giving the Bucs a chance to win games. But hopefully Baker can finally turn it around after singlehandedly losing 5 of the Bucs last 6 games. Needs to have a very very big day and start playing like the 3rd highest paid player in the NFL, and the highest paid player in team history — because since week 6 of last year, Baker has been mostly awful. Now would be a good time to snap out of that.
September 18th, 2026 at 7:05 pm
If they lose to the Browns….the season’s over!
September 18th, 2026 at 7:09 pm
I know they have a better shot ,then the Rams facing the New York Ravens! Thats where my money’s going Giants getting 7.5 im in!
September 18th, 2026 at 7:12 pm
My mom used to be a HUGE Baker fan…now she’s like meh.
September 18th, 2026 at 7:21 pm
#99BigFella
The JNF comment section is not representative of Bucs fanbase. Many of the negative comments are by same individuals on repeating themselves over and over and over again.
No matter what happens it will never be enough.
Most readers simply ignore their noise.