TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will try to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2014 when they host the Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium on Sept. 20, with kickoff set for 1:00 p.m. ET.
Tampa Bay opened the 2026 season with a 33-27 loss at Cincinnati, rallying from 18 points down before four lost fumbles proved fatal. It marked the first time since 2020 that the Buccaneers failed to win their season opener.
“It’s the next opponent,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said after the loss. “For us it’s making the corrections we need. I thought there was a lot of good stuff out there. Obviously, we didn’t come out on the right side but we’ll make the corrections we need to and we’ll move forward. Cleveland happens to be the next opponent and our home opener.”
The matchup carries a personal subplot for Mayfield, who was drafted first overall by Cleveland in 2018 before the Browns traded him to Carolina after making an enormous deal to bring in quarterback Deshaun Watson.
Cleveland enters the game in similarly rough shape after a 34-10 defeat at Jacksonville, where Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw four touchdown passes and Jacksonville’s defense recorded five sacks and an interception against Watson.
The Buccaneers will have homefield advantage as they face a second straight AFC North opponent. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.