TAMPA — Baker Mayfield said the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are on the verge of a breakout offensively, but six penalties for 62 yards and a red zone that produced just one touchdown in four trips doomed the team to a 23-19 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week Two.
“[I’m] frustrated because it’s close,” Mayfield said after Sunday’s game. “You can feel it. You can see it. We’re moving the ball at times, and then just shooting ourselves in the foot. So, that makes it more frustrating when you know you’re right there.”
The loss is an early stumble for first-year Offensive Coordinator Zac Robinson, whose unit moved the ball in stretches but repeatedly stalled inside Cleveland territory. The Buccaneers entered the red zone four times and converted just once for a touchdown, leaving points on the field that proved decisive in a four-point defeat.
Mayfield connected with wide receiver Tez Johnson on a 49-yard deep ball in the fourth quarter to set up a go-ahead field goal, but other attempts to push the ball downfield fell short. The quarterback acknowledged the timing and communication required to make those plays work consistently.
“Yeah, I just [have to] continue to communicate on landmarks and things that we’re trying to draw up,” Mayfield said. “[We have to] look at the tape, but it’s timing, it’s landmark throws and just trusting those guys to be in the right spots and also just putting it on them.”
Multiple offensive holding penalties were among the six flags, including one on the final sequence near Cleveland’s end zone. Mayfield said the group has the talent to correct course but must stop repeating the same errors.
“Our group is more than capable of handling stuff like this, but we [have to] really be self-critical, look at the tape, get stuff fixed and [we] just can’t keep making the same mistakes over and over,” he said.
The Buccaneers return to action in Week Three, where another slow offensive start would put Tampa Bay in an early hole in the NFC South standings.