Game 2

Browns at Bucs

Kickoff: 1 p.m.

TV: CBS (WTSP-TV Channel 10, locally) with Tom McCarthy, Robert Turbin and Tiffany Blackmon.

Streaming: FOX One, NFL+. (Geographic restrictions may apply; subscription may be required).

Radio: Buccaneers Radio Network WXTB-FM 97.9 in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region with Tony Castricone, Dave Moore and Jay Recher. (Transmisiones de radio en español en WTMP-FM 96.1 y WMGG-AM 1470 en Tampa). Additional stations throughout Florida carrying the game on the Buccaneers Radio Network can be found here. The game will also be broadcast on SiriusXM Channel 198 (Buccaneers Radio Network feed).

Weather: Well, whattya know, here comes the rain. It’s still summer in Florida and what does that mean? It means afternoon thunderstorms. So with a 1 p.m. kickoff, guess what AccuWeather.com predicts for the Bucs’ game this afternoon? You got it: Thunderstorms. Fans should have a nice morning tailgating as the weather, though it is expected to be mostly cloudy, will be hovering around 80 degrees. It will gradually warm up to 90 at kickoff. Late in the first half, here comes the thunder, lightning and rain. Maybe.

Odds: Per Hard Rock Bet, as of midnight, Bucs +8.5 (-475); over/under 41.

Referees: Brad Rogers and his gang will work today’s game. And Sharp Football Analysis has some very interesting intel on Rogers. Home teams actually have a losing record with Rogers, though not by much. Home teams are 23-24 when Roger’s outfit works a game.

Injuries: Browns — Out: G Teven Jenkins (back). Questionable: CB Tyson Campbell (ankle). Bucs — Questionable: S Miles Killebrew (concussion), WR Jalen McMillan (knee), CB Jacob Parrish (back).

Outlook:  Here is something that has “this Joe” a little freaked out: In the past 10 games, the Bucs are 0-10 against the spread. Yeah, Joe knows, who cares? It only matters who wins. Joe gets it. But here’s the thing: A team that cannot cover is often a sign of a team that underperforms (Penn State last season was just such a team and what happened?). Consistently underperforms. Regularly underperforms. Now Joe isn’t saying KitKat-eating Bucs coach Todd Bowles wants his team to underperform, but what is the usual talking point of defensive coaches? Keep the game close. Not only does that set up a team to not cover but most importantly, when you keep the game close, you keep the other team in the game. And what happens when you let a team hang around? Yup, you guessed it. S(p)it happens. One reason Joe doesn’t think you can pin this lack of covering games on Bowles is that when Bowles has good offensive coordinators, the Bucs didn’t mess around. When Liam Coen was offensive coordinator had a chance to choke out the other team, he did. Anyone remember the Bucs curb-stomping the slimy Saints in Lincoln’s Tomb two years ago? The Bucs also regularly covered when Dave Canales ran the offense.  But man, wouldn’t it be such a Bucs thing if, with five minutes left in the game today, you look up at the scoreboard and it’s a one-score game with the hapless Browns? Last year, the Bucs flirted with disaster with the Jets.  So don’t tell Joe that a garbage team can’t come into The Licht House and give the Bucs a scare — or worse!

Fun facts: In the Browns-Bucs series history, the home team has won five of the last six meetings. … Browns weirdo QB Deshaun Watson completed 16 of 22 attempts for 205 passing yards and a touchdown while rushing for 38 yards in Week 1. Watson has at least one touchdown pass in three of his last four road games. The only time Watson has played the Bucs was in 2019 with Houston when he threw for 184 yards and ran for 37. … RB Quinshon Judkins had 50 scrimmage yards (33 rushing, 17 receiving) last week. Judkins also has at least 50 scrimmage yards in four of his last five games. … WR KC Concepcion had 58 scrimmage yards (43 receiving, 15 rushing) in his NFL debut. … DE Jared Verse had 4 tackles and a tackle for loss in his Cleveland debut. Verse has at least one tackle for loss in five of his last six games, which include the playoffs. Last year in his lone game against the Bucs, Verse had four tackles and two sacks. … LB Carson Schwesinger led the Browns with 10 tackles and a tackle for loss in Week 1. Schwesinger has at least 10 tackles in 7 of his past 8 games. He also has a tackle for loss in three of his last four games. … CB Denzel Ward had five tackles and a forced fumble last week. Ward has the most passes defensed since entering the NFL in 2018 (104). Ward had 6 tackles the last time the Browns played the Bucs. He has a tackle for loss in three of his last four road games. … Bucs QB Baker Mayfield completed 23 of 28 passes (82.1 percent) for 216 yards and a rushing touchdown in Week 1. Since 2023, Mayfield ranks second in the NFL in touchdown passes (95) and third in passing yards (12,453). … RB Bucky Irving had 93 scrimmage yards (48 receiving and 45 rushing) with a touchdown on the ground in Week 1. Bucky has at least 70 yards from scrimmage in 9 of his last 10 games. … WR Chris Godwin had 110 yards on 12 catches the last time the Bucs played the Browns. … WR Emeka Egbuka had 5 receptions for team-high 63 yards in Week 1. Was only rookie last season to record 100+ receiving yards in 3 games. … NT Vita Vea had 34 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, a fumble recovery and two passes defensed last season. Vea had a tackle for loss in last game against the Browns. … LB Josiah Trotter led the Bucs with 10 tackles, a sack, a pick-six and a pass defended in his NFL debut. Trotter was the first player since 1982 with a sack and a pick-six in his first NFL game. … CB Zyon McCollum had 9 tackles, a tackle for loss and two passes defended in Week 1.

IT'S WEEK 1 NFL WEEKEND!!!

We got a box from a team that holds a VERY special place in my heart… it's the CLEVELAND BROWNS!!!

I grew up a Browns fan… my favorite player was Leroy Kelly and I even got his autograph!

Thank you Coach Monken and @Browns for all this stuff!! pic.twitter.com/JAh7c11IB9

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) September 11, 2026

"This may be your last time to bet against Deshaun Watson."@paulyhoward & @MitchMossRadio break down the upcoming Week 2 matchup between the Buccaneers & Browns.

For everything FTM related: https://t.co/Oqm8KVaJqu pic.twitter.com/WO9YKYXOVc

— VSiN (@VSiNLive) September 14, 2026