The Buccaneers walked out of Week 1 with a 33-27 loss to the Bengals, and the final score did plenty to hide how rough the afternoon really was for several key players. Tampa Bay gets Cleveland at Raymond James Stadium this Sunday, and for a few guys on this roster, another stumble would be a problem they can’t shrug off.
At the top of that list is Alex Anzalone. Tampa Bay brought him in as a priority free agent this offseason, banking on a veteran who could help clean up the coverage issues at the second level while also stepping in to replace Lavonte David.
Instead, his first game in front of the Buccaneers’ fan base went the wrong way. One outing doesn’t define a player, but the debut didn’t come close to the standard the team was hoping for from a linebacker advertised as a dependable all-around piece with coverage ability, run support and some pass-rush juice.
Yaya Diaby is in a different kind of spot. Rueben Bain Jr. grabbed most of the attention among the edge rushers before the season, but a rookie being uneven is hardly a shock.
Diaby, though, has more riding on these games because he’s in a contract year. Tampa Bay already handed out major deals to Baker Mayfield and Vita Vea this offseason, with Cody Mauch also heading toward free agency, so Diaby needs to show the front office he’s more than just a usable piece.
If he keeps putting up middling results, that’s not a good sign. And with Cleveland’s offensive line potentially missing as many as three starters, Sunday is a chance for him to turn Week 1 into an outlier.
Then there’s Mayfield, and this one carries the most weight of all. Not long ago, the Buccaneers made him the highest-paid player in franchise history, and Week 1 was not the kind of response anyone had in mind.
His three lost fumbles were the difference in the game, and the fallout was immediate after a huge extension. What Tampa Bay needs now is simple: a cleaner, calmer version of its quarterback.
If Mayfield handles the football, plays with timing, accuracy and poise, and guides an efficient offense against the Browns, the noise from Cincinnati will start to disappear. If he doesn’t, the criticism only gets louder and the Buccaneers’ hopes for a successful season will take another hit.
In Other News...
Tristan Wirfs Rare Bucs Feat Looks Even More Remarkable Now
When the Detroit Lions shifted All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell to the left side this season, it brought fresh attention to a move the Buccaneers already know can be tricky. Tristan Wirfs made the same switch in 2023, and he did it while still looking like one of the leagues best linemen, which only adds to how unusual that transition really is.
Sewell has had a tougher opening to the change, and the early contrast underscores how rare it is for a tackle to flip sides without a noticeable dip. For Tampa Bay, Wirfs first year on the left now looks even more impressive, a reminder that what seemed like a smooth adjustment was actually a remarkable feat. [Read more 🡒]
Ja'Marr Chase Had A Revealing Reaction To Buccaneers' Defensive Showing
JaMarr Chases quiet opener was notable not just for the numbers, but for the way he framed them afterward. After catching only two passes in Cincinnatis season-opening win, the receiver said an earlier version of himself might have let that kind of outing get to him, but hes now more focused on staying mentally locked in and ready for whatever the game script brings. He also made it clear he did not ask Joe Burrow for more targets, a small but telling sign of where his head is as the Bengals move on.
Chases comments land with added weight for the Buccaneers, who know how quickly a receiver of his caliber can change a game once hes fully engaged. He also gave Houstons defense its due ahead of the next matchup, which only adds to the sense that opposing coordinators are still trying to figure out how to keep him from taking over. For Tampa Bay, it is another reminder that even when a star has a quiet day, the threat level never really goes away. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Could Be Walking Into Clevelands Biggest Early Quarterback Tension
The Browns added a familiar name to their practice squad this week in Jimmy Horn Jr., the former Carolina Panthers receiver who was released and quickly landed in Cleveland. Horn already knows one important piece of the Browns quarterback picture from their Colorado days together with Shedeur Sanders, which gives this move a little extra interest for anyone watching how Clevelands depth chart might evolve.
For the Buccaneers, the timing matters because there is already speculation around head coach Todd Monken and whether he could make a quarterback switch during or after the Week 2 game against Tampa Bay. Deshaun Watson is still listed as the starter, but Sanders has become part of the conversation, and Cleveland has not announced any decision yet. If the Browns are trying to sort out their quarterback future while Tampa Bay is in the building, it adds another layer to a game that could already carry more early-season tension than usual. [Read more 🡒]