Deshaun Watson outplayed Baker Mayfield and earned at least a few more starts for the Cleveland Browns.
Watson threw two touchdown passes, including a go-ahead 17-yard toss to Blake Whiteheart in the fourth quarter, leading the Browns to a 23-19 comeback victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday in a game that was delayed two hours, 12 minutes because of lightning.
Watson went 24 of 30 for 238 yards with no turnovers and a 121.9 passer rating in his best game since Sept. 24, 2023, against Tennessee.
“I’m just happy we got the win,” he said. “I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I’ll leave the journey in God’s hands and let the outcome be the outcome.”
The Buccaneers (0-2) were driving and had a second-and-4 at the Cleveland 28 when the game was suspended at the two-minute warning.
When it finally resumed, heavy rain started falling again.
Bucky Irving ran twice and Mayfield’s pass to Ted Hurst got the Bucs to the 13 before a holding penalty set them back. Mayfield’s pass on fourth-and-10 from the 20 to Emeka Egbuka in the end zone was out of his reach, sealing the win for the Browns (1-1).
Watson and Mayfield faced each other for the first time in a meeting between two quarterbacks who are linked together.
Watson is 10-11 in five seasons with the Browns and seemed to be running out of time as a starter before this effort.
Monken had a message for people who claimed this was the same old Browns after a 34-10 loss to the Jaguars.
“The Browns are gonna Browns? (Expletive) that,” Monken said.
Watson connected with Denzel Boston on a 55-yard TD pass to tie it at 16 late in the third quarter. Boston caught a slant, broke three tackles and sprinted into the end zone.
Watson converted four times on third down on the drive that ended with his TD pass to Whiteheart that gave the Browns a 23-19 lead with 3:51 left in the game.
Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin and Cleveland’s Andre Szmyt combined to go 7-for-7 on field goals.
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