Play in the Week 2 matchup between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns got back underway just after 6 p.m. ET after a weather delay that stretched past two hours at Raymond James Stadium.
Lightning in the area brought the game to a halt, and thunderstorms with heavy rain followed, leaving puddles scattered around the field. Fans were told to move out of their seats and head for the concourse and club areas, while both teams went to their locker rooms.
The NFL handles weather delays case by case, but lightning within eight miles of the stadium usually triggers a stoppage. Once that happens, the league generally waits at least 30 minutes after the last strike before getting teams back on the field.
At the moment the delay hit, Cleveland was ahead 23-19 at the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay was pressing for a late swing, and when action resumed the Buccaneers faced a second-and-4 at the Cleveland 28-yard line. Tampa Bay still had all three timeouts, while the Browns had two.
The game had been tight from the start. The first half turned into a field goal exchange, with Tampa Bay taking a 9-6 lead into the break.
The Buccaneers finally found the end zone on their opening drive of the third quarter, but Cleveland answered with two touchdowns of its own and grabbed its first lead of the day with 3:51 left. Those two scores were a strong sign of a bounce-back showing from Deshaun Watson.
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Bucs Have The Edge In A Game Neither Offense Can Control
A sloppy first half left Tampa Bay ahead of Cleveland 9-6 at the break, with the Buccaneers taking advantage of a key fourth-down turnover by the Browns to gain a small but meaningful edge. Neither offense found much rhythm, while Clevelands defense did enough to keep the game tight and the Browns offense repeatedly stalled when it had chances to extend drives.
Deshaun Watson opened for Cleveland and was efficient if not explosive, completing 7 of 9 passes for 55 yards, while Baker Mayfields afternoon was just as constrained for Tampa Bay at 9 of 15 for 45 yards with an interception. With both sides struggling to create clean possession after clean possession, the game settled into the kind of field-position battle where one mistake can matter a lot more than a long scoring drive. [Read more 🡒]
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For Tampa Bay, the early takeaway is less about one game than about the chance it created to probe a defense that may not be hiding much in obvious situations. The sample is tiny, but if Cleveland keeps showing that same down-and-distance rhythm, future opponents will have a clear starting point for how to plan around it. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Get Needed Help Back But One Defensive Absence Still Looms
The Buccaneers got a little healthier heading into their Week 2 meeting with the Browns, with wide receiver Jalen McMillan and running back Sean Tucker both available for Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Those are the kinds of late-week checks that matter for a Tampa Bay offense still trying to settle in early, and the official inactive list gives the team a bit more flexibility on that side of the ball.
The bigger concern on the other side is cornerback Jacob Parrish, who will not play because of a back injury, leaving one defensive absence still hanging over the Bucs as they face a Cleveland team that is relatively intact. The Browns have only guard Teven Jenkins ruled out, and cornerback Tyson Campbell is expected to be available, so Tampa Bay will need to sort through its own missing piece while trying to keep pace with an opponent that arrives in much better shape. [Read more 🡒]