Todd Bowles walks into Week 2 with a clear opening in front of him: the Buccaneers’ pass rush gets a Browns matchup that should tell a lot about where this defense is headed.
After Tampa Bay’s 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 1, Baker Mayfield took plenty of heat. Bowles, though, is the one carrying the broader pressure, and that’s not new. He was already viewed as a coach on the hot seat before the 2026 NFL regular season even kicked off.
That makes Sunday against Cleveland feel bigger than a normal early-season game. The Browns were blown apart last week by former Bucs offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and now they come to Tampa Bay with Deshaun Watson expected to start again after another ugly outing against Jacksonville.
That quarterback matchup is where this turns for Bowles and his defense. Joe Burrow handled the Buccaneers in the opener by getting rid of the ball quickly and repeatedly finding tight end Mike Gesicki.
Watson, by contrast, has looked slow to process and even slower when pressure starts closing in. Once he’s forced off his spot, the pocket seems to swallow him up.
For Tampa Bay, that creates the kind of test the pass rush needs right now. The unit has plenty to answer for, and Bowles is taking heat for it too. The criticism around Watson is one thing; the concerns about the Buccaneers’ rush are right there with it.
If there’s a game built for a reset, this is it. Rookie outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. had a quiet NFL debut, and Sunday gives him a chance to make a statement against a Browns offense that looked overwhelmed a week ago.
Bowles has dealt with criticism in a lot of areas since taking over as Buccaneers head coach, but the biggest one at the moment is the pass rush. He hasn’t gotten the development he wanted from Yaya Diaby, and there’s real concern among Buccaneers fans that Bain could wind up in the same conversation if the pressure doesn’t show up against Watson.
Sunday is the chance for Bowles to change that conversation fast.
In Other News...
Warren Sapp Lands In An Awkward Off-Field Tampa Scene
Warren Sapp found himself in an uncomfortable off-field scene in Tampa this week, drawing attention at a City Council meeting tied to a flood-prevention project. Council chairman Alan Clendenin and Tampa Police intervened after Sapp was allegedly causing a disturbance, and the council asked that he be trespassed for the day.
Sapp said he was at City Hall only to pick up paperwork and disputed the authority to remove him from the public building. It was the sort of public dustup that has little to do with football, but for a former Buccaneers star still known around Tampa, it was enough to put his name back in the local spotlight for all the wrong reasons. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Head Into Home Opener With One Lineup Concern Still Lingering
The Buccaneers are heading into their home opener with a little more clarity on the roster, thanks in part to another look at safety Ifeatu Melifonwu. Tampa Bay elevated Melifonwu from the practice squad for its Week 2 matchup, giving the secondary another option as the team sorts through a handful of injury questions on the eve of its first game at Raymond James Stadium.
Miles Killebrew, Jacob Parrish and Jalen McMillan all landed on the questionable list, leaving at least one lineup spot worth watching as kickoff approaches. Sean Tucker is expected back after sitting out Week 1, but Melifonwu remains part of the subtext here too: he was active last week without getting into the game, and this elevation also leaves Tampa Bay with one more practice squad call-up available later in the season. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Rookie WR Suddenly Has A Week 2 Opportunity Fans Will Notice
Ted Hurst III made a quiet but useful first impression in his debut, catching all three of his targets for 36 yards and showing the kind of steadiness Tampa Bays staff has already noticed in practice. General manager Jason Licht has also pointed to Hursts consistency behind the scenes, a sign that the rookie wideout is not just hanging around for developmental reps but is already carving out a place in the Buccaneers plans this season.
Now comes a chance to turn that early trust into something more visible. With Week 2 bringing Cleveland to town, Hurst is positioned for another opportunity to contribute, and it will be worth watching how the Bucs continue to work him into the offense as the year gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]