Ira Kaufman’s 10 Takeaways From Bucs-Browns
September 21st, 2026
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BY IRA KAUFMAN
Wet, wild and totally unacceptable.
You’d think the Bucs would have entered Sunday’s home opener against the Browns in an ornery mood after last week’s giveaway at Cincinnati. You’d think Tampa Bay defenders would tackle better and Baker Mayfield would torture the franchise that cast him out of Cleveland.
You would be wrong.
The Bucs dropped a 23-19 decision to the lowly Browns in a game that featured a 132-minute weather delay and a reeling team running out of time to win over a frustrated fan base.
Instead of settling this game by the half, as the Jaguars did to the Browns a week ago, the Bucs kept Cleveland hanging around. That’s an annoying trait Buc fans have become accustomed to during the lost seasons.
This is starting to look like another one of those.
How else do you explain scoring only one touchdown against a defense that was ravaged in Jacksonville? While Baker Mayfield struggled again, Deshaun Watson threw for 183 yards and two touchdowns in the second half.
Yes, the same Watson who was supposedly on the brink of being yanked for Shadeur Sanders.
Todd Bowles had a knack for generating successful starts, but that September Song is out of tune. The Bucs are 0-2, with upcoming home games against Minnesota and Green Bay perhaps defining their 2026 season.
The same fans who don’t give Bowles much credit when the Bucs win are now blaming him entirely for the dismal getaway. Inside the locker room, players are reaching for answers — even as outsiders question both the roster and the game plan.
“We put ourselves in a hole and we’ve got to pull ourselves out of it,” Chris Godwin told me on his way out the door. “We’re not playing complementary football. And yes, we’re being tested. Our fans are frustrated … as they should be.”
Here’s how the Browns rallied from a 16-6 deficit in the second half to spring a major upset and leave Buc Nation seething:
* The Browns won because they made more plays when it counted. For instance, they converted only 1-of-8 on third down through three quarters, then went 4-for-5 with the game on the line in the final 15 minutes. Combined against the Bucs, Cincinnati and Cleveland were successful on third down at a 48 percent clip. Bowles has to be sick about that number.
Bucky Irving
* Speaking of numbers, Rueben Bain did not make the post-game stat sheet. Not a mention. Tampa Bay coaches need to keep his confidence up this week because he surely didn’t expect a pedestrian start to his pro career.
* Mayfield didn’t lose three fumbles again, but he did throw an interception while given a clean pocket and averaged less than six yards per pass attempt. He was outplayed by Watson and No. 6 is certainly not playing up to the contract he just landed.
* Memo to Zac Robinson: You’ve got a back averaging 5.4 yards per carry … give him the damned ball. Bucky Irving has his wiggle back after a forgettable sophomore season. He’s making guys miss and he ripped off a 38-yard run midway through the opening quarter to set up a field goal. At the same time, it’s hard to believe Irving gained only one yard on his four receptions Sunday.
* You’ve heard this one before, but it bears repeating. This team does not tackle well. Nothing sums up this chronic issue like Watson’s 55-yard TD pass to rookie Denzel Boston, who somehow evaded three Buc defenders who could — and should — have put him on the ground.
* While Mayfield has been sacked seven times, Tampa Bay has struggled to find a consistent pass rush. Two sacks and four QB hits aren’t good enough against an ordinary offensive line.
* Graham Barton needs to get his act together. He drew two holding penalties, including a brutal flag in the final minute from Cleveland’s 13-yard line.
* What can you say about McLaughlin, except to state the obvious — he’s one of the NFL’s premier kickers. He’s 6-for-6 on FG tries, including a 59-yarder that opened the scoring on Sunday.
* You had to be in the stadium to feel it, but the Bucs failed to play with discernible urgency. The crowd rarely got into the game and a team that has now lost nine of its last 11 matchups isn’t displaying much juice. At least look like you’re excited to meet the challenge and impose your will.
* NFL history is littered with many teams that started 0-2, yet went on to make the playoffs. There’s time to turn this listing pirate ship around, but it’s also notable that New Orleans and Carolina both won on the road Sunday, with young quarterbacks enjoying big days.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:16 am
I think ima focus on my family this year
September 21st, 2026 at 10:16 am
Congrats Baker fans. You got what you wanted. A QB who can’t complete a pass over 10 yards and the owners gave him $165 to start the season with a losing streak. The combination of Baker and Bowles keeps getting the same losing results but the owners are too scared to try something new. Lol…how is this better than a new young HC and rookie QB?
Welcome to the tank year!
September 21st, 2026 at 10:18 am
Call for his job, Ira!
He’s 3-10 since Week 8 of last season and only the Titans, Cardinals, and Commanders have worse records.
TODD BOWLES AND HIS OUTDATED/SOFT DEFENSE DESERVES TO GET CANNED.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:19 am
Ira, I was at the game yesterday and appreciated that the team honored your 50 years covering sports. That was classy. Now they need to fire Bowles.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:19 am
Nobody was able to tackle or punch that ball out of Boston’s grip yet 3 had the chance. pretty sad.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:20 am
No urgency, No plan
September 21st, 2026 at 10:20 am
JOE
I THINK THE FANS NEED A BAKER IS TRASH THREAD
I JUST DONT GET WHY WE PAID THIS GUY, THE BROWNS DIDNT WANT HIM, THE PANTHERS DIDNT WANT HIM
HOW IS BAKER THE HIGHEST PAID PLAYER IN FRANCHISE HISTORY
WHAT A SLAP IN THE FACE TO BUCS FANS
DUDE IS A TURNOVER MACHINE
CANT EVEN WIN A GAME WITH 3 TIMEOUTS ON HIS OWN 28 YARD LINE, WITH OVER 2 MINUTES TO PLAY.
AND THIS GUY STILL CANT GO OUT THERE AND WIN THE GAME
28 YARDS. OVER 2 HOURS TO PREP THE PLAYS
DID IT EVEN OCCUR TO THIS GUY TO PICK UP THE FIRST DOWN??
September 21st, 2026 at 10:23 am
Ira should talk, or write. He’s been one of Licht’s, and Todds biggest supporters. Now he’s finding out what most of us knew. Bowles, and Licht are the problem. Team is overrated, but more so over hyped by the Joe’s Ira’s, and the rest of the clueless local pen, and mic club. After 2-9 they still can’t bring themselves to call for Todd’s, and Licht’s firing. Won’t be long, this ship has been sinking since last seasons collapse. All Licht, and Bowles did was rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic. Time for someone to pay.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:24 am
I’ve tried to be fair about the Bowles thing. But it’s hard to justify keeping a defensive head coach around who has a bad defense every year!
September 21st, 2026 at 10:25 am
You have a HC\DC that can’t teach his defense how to tackle.
Please tell me again why Bowles is still employed????
Deshaun Watson came to Tampa looking for a happy ending.
Todd said hold my beer big guy. Me love you long time!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
September 21st, 2026 at 10:28 am
Week 2 and I’m done 100% Turning this garbage off no need to keep watching inept owners who are just plain stupid. The coach has absolutely no clue what the hell is going on. No clue on how to adjust. Everyone knows the real reason he is here 1000000000000000000%
September 21st, 2026 at 10:28 am
Ira,
I would’ve bet you mentioned in one of your takeaways that Cade Otton was wearing GLOVES! Just trying to look for a positive.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:28 am
And I don’t know why Licht keeps getting a free pass either. He keeps his old guys around too long. Good organizations get rid of them while they can still flip them for assets. And his early round picks have been bad with a few exceptions.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:33 am
Keep Bains’ confidence up?? Really?? Bench him and start David Walker.
Walker only played 9 snaps and had a sack. Playing time MUST be based on merit and not what you are paying someone or their hype.
Anzalone is washed and costing us big time-FRIGGING CUT HIM!!
ME13 would have snared the ball that Hurst missed in the end zone. We really miss Big Mike and you can see now why he left.
Cody Mauch was the poorest grade on the Oline.
This garbage is beyond pitiful.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:36 am
Our loyalty to Bowls has been our downfall. We had 2 O coordinators leave who are successful head coaches. We need an offensive minded head coach to bring continuity to the offense and stay around. Baker was only good when he had 2 head coach potential OC’s. BOWLS HAS TO GO!!! And don’t bring in Tomlin. If we do well, the OC will just leave again.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:38 am
baker is washed…has been since 2024…
time to clean house…Jason, baker, bowles and Zac must go now….
promote Danny Smith as HC…
GO BUCS!!!!!
September 21st, 2026 at 10:41 am
why is godwin only getting 3 tgts. “someone” needs to ask why. 4 last week 3 this week and he is playing hard slapping down defenders and 100%, it makes no sense.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:43 am
I doubt the Joe’s or Ira will call for Bowles to be fired but they should. He is the worst head coach in the NFL.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:47 am
Should not have signed Baker. He has his hands, and mind, full of his wife and kids understandably. We need to get someone that is all about ball, has no life but ball, and only wants to play ball. I would be fine with Arch Manning, but we need an actual offensive minded HC, do not get this kid and let Todd get to him. The weapons in CG, E2, Bucky, and dare I regretfully say Cade Otton I believe are enough for an actual QB to succeed. The defense needs to be addressed as well. We should not be allowing Deshaun Watson carve us up.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:57 am
Ira, ask the tough questions this week at the pressers. Ask Bowles if Anzalone is going to get benched. Ask Bowles why journeymen TEs look like pro bowlers against his D and how his team can never get pressure on the QB. Ask Baker if he still feels disrespected after his putrid start to the season. Ask Vea how his “stay in” has made him a non factor. Ask Zac Robinson why he is not utilizing his wide receivers, is it his mistrust of Baker? Time to speak up for the fans Ira, heck ask Bowles if he is worried about getting canned just to see if he gives a cliched answer and talks about execution and communication like he has on this 2-9 run.
September 21st, 2026 at 10:59 am
Not if but when Bowles gets fired. The Glazers and Licht have limited themselves on a replacement because they gave Baker that massive contract. Now you have to find someone who wants to work with a guy who is not that good instead of bringing in his own QB either through the draft or otherwise. Giving Baker the contract he wanted was a massive mistake by Licht. Bucs fans are the ones who have been disrespected.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:06 am
Enough with the playoff talk. I dont want Bowles back in ’27. Its been a horrific 4+ years with this career loser. Time to move on.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:09 am
We launched Grizzard for this? Compare the first two games last year with this year. Night and day difference. And that was with some injuries already. I warned you about Robinson. Now it looks like Baker will get a new OC next year (and a new HC of course).
September 21st, 2026 at 11:15 am
Imma bring up the elephant in the room that everyone in Tampa seems to want to talk around: This team really misses 13.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:15 am
Imma bring up the elephant in the room that everyone in Tampa seems to want to talk around: This team really misses Mike Evans.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:16 am
Defense guru should have been booted 2 years ago!!!!
It’s a joke he kept his job. He’s now 20 games under 500 as a HC
3 winning seasons out 8 being a HC about to be 3 out of 9.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:19 am
Sorry, Sage, but I have to correct you on something here.
You wrote: “NFL history is littered with many teams that started 0-2, yet went on to make the playoffs.”
I just read a story where, over the last decade, only 14% of teams that lost their first two games made the postseason that year. Going back farther (25 years), the number is 11%. Only 2 teams (’01 Pats, ’07 Giants) made a deep playoff run.
“Littered” isn’t the word I would use. In fact, unfortunately, history says the season is likely already over.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:22 am
Yep didn’t take long for that Baker contract to look terrible.
Early in Cincy, Zac showed a couple nice play designs. Baker rolling out and finding Emeka running against the grain across the field. Where are those plays?
That game really soured me on Baker. I thought he had legit excuses before. No excuse for yesterday. Grizzard is sitting somewhere laughing.
Terrible coaches, terrible QB play… if it continues Bucs will have a high pick, a new HC (3 years too late) and maybe the Steelers or Jets or Titans will take Baker.
Sad times. I do believe Licht is a good GM and this team has plenty of talent. That talent has been woefully mismanaged by the nice culture player coach.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:23 am
Not a single takeaway about Vea and Baker?
You have time.
We have Baker for the next three years.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:36 am
apologies to Grizzard
September 21st, 2026 at 11:40 am
Trade Baker and promte Jalon Daniels to QB1. Oh wait, we can’t do that because of Baker’s contract. Sucks for us.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:40 am
Why do they keep paying these people ?!?!? It’s disgusting that nothing changes yet now they are on the hook for multiple more years of this.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:48 am
For those who were watching from home yesterday, the Bucs, which means the Glazers, honored Ira with a Jumbotron accolade and spoken tribute. There was a picture of a smiling Ira sitting in the press box with his laptop in front of him. The crowd was standing and clapping during the presentation, showing their love, respect, and appreciation for your storied career.
Ira, you deserved so much more than to honored at this kind of game.
September 21st, 2026 at 11:51 am
We keep handing money to losers. Or they become losers after. Winfield loser. Wurfs loser.
Mauch baker vea. All losers. No accountability or fire in this team at some point theres gotta be some type of accountability
September 21st, 2026 at 11:52 am
I know fans are looking for individual scapegoats like Mayfield, but he had Coen in 2024 and was successful. This whole thing runs so much deeper than the players it’s hard to place individual blame. It’s been mentioned several times already, but there is such a lack of passion and sense of urgency going all the way back to the middle of last season. This isn’t on the players or even the GM. This is on coaching! Our new Special Teams Coach has passion and look at the early results. Great tackling and good starting field position. There is no fire on this team and there is a serious motivation problem. Look at how this team played during every losing streak. When you change players, assistants, scheme and play calling with zero results there’s only one thing left to do and it should have been done yesterday.
September 21st, 2026 at 12:05 pm
SlyPirate, good point about Vea, that tub of lard certainly has not done jack since he quit his “hold in”. Is he still getting “reps” in?
Also how about the OL, worse than mediocre when it was supposed to be a strength. This is not an excuse for Baker, the OL did not force him to throw the pick or cough up the ball last week or miss by 5 yards on simple throws but they do contribute penalties and have been like a sieve.
September 21st, 2026 at 12:13 pm
This game from the beginning reminded me so much of 1980’s Bucs games.
September 21st, 2026 at 12:24 pm
How to be a football player
Step 1. Tackle
September 21st, 2026 at 12:26 pm
Playoffs!! Come on, open your eyes!! Saw this coming from a mile away! This franchise is going back in time, with the same type of front office decisions that were made a decade ago! Blind owners leading a blind GM and head coach!
Welcome to the next lost decade!!
September 21st, 2026 at 12:31 pm
Where are the just plain stupid, “Baker Bois”?
September 21st, 2026 at 12:40 pm
The only difference between this team and a bucket of turds is the bucket
September 21st, 2026 at 12:40 pm
What does this team do well?
Have they ever had an identity under Todd?
September 21st, 2026 at 12:42 pm
As for the team’s urgency and energy, I’m reminded that teams reflect their coach and “No Urgency, or Energy” is the perfect description of Todd Bowles! That is exactly what the Glazers chose. They are getting exactly what was expected.
September 21st, 2026 at 12:49 pm
I had the game on the radio. So I could be wrong, but has Chris Godwin only used as a receiver a few times? Sounded like he strong armed his opponents. So what is going on? Play your best players. I appreciate giving rookies a chance, but when it is crunch time, use what works. Chris has imo, great hands to catch a ball. But it sounded like it was raining in Tampa, so were the running backs too tired to run? Saving the win for the 4th quarter is not a good game plan. It obviously doesn’t work. Still a Buc fan. I miss M1K3 .
September 21st, 2026 at 12:54 pm
Just about any other organization would have shown Bowles the door at the end of last season. Anyone who thinks that this team stands any chance of getting to the playoffs have not watched a Todd Bowles coached team. There is just something missing as it has been the last few years. I’m not saying that a lot of the guys aren’t playing hard but this team does not know how to make plays to win. A lot of people say there are just a few plays in the game that will decide the outcome. The Bucs can’t seem to make any of those plays. There is no fire in this team and there has not been almost the entire Bowles tenure.
September 21st, 2026 at 1:45 pm
“NFL history is littered with many teams that started 0-2, yet went on to make the playoffs. There’s time to turn this listing pirate ship around…”
Really? How many of those teams were 2-9 in their last 11 games like the Bucs?
Nothing is getting turned around until a certain candy-bar-eating mofo is forced to walk the plank.
September 21st, 2026 at 2:04 pm
I felt it through the TV and it was obvious early.
September 21st, 2026 at 4:46 pm
Bowles’ soft zone has the whole team depressed. The incessant screen passes only make it worse.