Cleveland Browns intercept Baker Mayfield three times in 37-10 Week 2 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa, FL - The Cleveland Browns combined a balanced 402-yard offensive performance with three interceptions of Baker Mayfield, steadily creating separation in a 37-10 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.

Cleveland finished with 232 passing yards and 170 rushing yards while producing 16 first downs. Tampa Bay managed 261 offensive yards and seven first downs, and its attempts to answer the Browns never developed into a sustained challenge. The margin grew as the game progressed, leaving Cleveland comfortably in front by the closing stretch.

Tua Tagovailoa completed 23 of 40 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown, finishing with an 82.4 passer rating. His production extended beyond the passing game: Tagovailoa ran twice for 78 yards and scored a rushing touchdown, with one of those carries going for 43 yards.

"We had different ways to move the ball, and that matters when the game starts opening up," Tagovailoa said. "There are still things we can clean up, but putting more than 400 yards on the board as an offense gives us something solid to build from."

Quinshon Judkins handled most of Cleveland’s conventional rushing workload, carrying 22 times for 89 yards and a touchdown. His longest run covered 28 yards. Between Judkins’ volume and Tagovailoa’s two long gains, the Browns finished with 97 more rushing yards than the Buccaneers.

Harold Fannin Jr was the most active target in Cleveland’s passing game, catching nine passes for 94 yards. KC Concepcion Jr added two receptions for 33 yards and scored Tagovailoa’s passing touchdown. Cleveland made five trips to the red zone, coming away with two touchdowns and two field goals.

"You want to give the offense something dependable every time you’re involved," Fannin said. "Nine catches means the ball was coming my way a lot, and my focus was making sure those opportunities turned into positive yards."

The Browns also owned a pronounced advantage on possession downs. They converted 9 of 20 third downs, while Tampa Bay went 1-for-13. Cleveland failed on its lone fourth-down attempt, and the Buccaneers finished 0-for-3 on fourth down. Tampa Bay reached the red zone once and settled for a field goal.

Mayfield completed 15 of 36 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown, but his three interceptions were the central blemish in a performance that produced a 33.1 passer rating. Cleveland’s defense also registered four sacks.

Kenny Moore II accounted for one of the interceptions, returning it 16 yards. He also recorded half a sack and a pass deflection as part of Cleveland’s productive defensive afternoon.

"When the ball gives you a chance, you have to finish it," Moore said. "Three interceptions and four sacks are numbers the whole defense can take pride in. We were active, and we kept making Tampa work for everything."

Tampa Bay’s biggest passing production came from Ted Hurst III, who caught three passes for 85 yards and the Buccaneers’ only touchdown. His day included a 70-yard reception, the longest completion for either team. Cade Otton added four receptions for 57 yards, but the Buccaneers did not consistently move the chains around those gains.

Mayfield contributed 36 rushing yards on three attempts, including a 26-yard run. Bucky Irving was held to 37 yards on 12 carries as Tampa Bay finished with 73 rushing yards overall.

"Three interceptions puts your team in a bad position, and I have to own that," Mayfield said. "We hit a few plays, but not nearly enough of them. One conversion on third down and seven first downs aren’t the kind of numbers we can accept."

The Buccaneers did produce five sacks despite the lopsided result. Jared Verse recorded 2.5 of them, giving Tampa Bay a notable defensive contribution on an afternoon otherwise defined by Cleveland’s widening advantage.

For the Browns, the final numbers reflected production across several areas: more offensive yards, a 170-yard rushing total, nine third-down conversions and a defense that intercepted three passes. Tampa Bay had isolated flashes, including Hurst’s 85 receiving yards and its five sacks, but Cleveland finished Week 2 with the 27-point victory.

Up Next

Cleveland will return home in Week 3 to host the Carolina Panthers and look to follow up the win, while Tampa Bay remains home to face the Minnesota Vikings as it tries to rebound.