The Cleveland Browns head to Tampa Bay in Week 2 looking to avoid an 0-2 start after a disappointing 34-10 blowout loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2026 NFL season opener. Standing in their way is former Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who are also searching for their first win after a 33-27 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1. 

Mayfield turned the ball over three times against Cincinnati, and that could spell trouble for the Browns in Week 2.

Monken was asked about Mayfield to start the week and what he expects from the former No. 1 overall pick. The Browns coach did not mince words about the quarterback’s competitive fire.

“He’s a great football player and highly competitive, and it’s irrespective of playing the Browns,” Monken stated. “He’s very prideful, he wants to play good football, and he’s a great football player. He can only speak to having it circled. I can only speak about what I think of him as a player and how competitive he is.” 

And I’m super happy for him and his new contract, he certainly deserved it. He’s played his rear end off down there, and there’s very few people I’ve been around that like football more than Baker Mayfield, and that’s a fact. So, whether it’s us or another team, he was not going to be happy with the way he played, and he’s going to be ready to go.”

Baker Mayfield has every reason to be motivated in Week 2

Monken’s message was clear. He’s not ignoring the fact that Mayfield is coming off a tough game against the Bengals where he turned the football over too many times to give Tampa Bay a chance to win. Mayfield signed a three-year, $165 million contract just a week before the season opener. The Buccaneers quarterback is going to want to bounce back in a big way against his former team, and the Browns could be walking into a difficult spot.

Mayfield went 23-of-28 passing for 216 yards with five rushes for 30 yards against Cincinnati, as well as the three lost fumbles. He’s coming off a 2025 season where he threw 26 touchdown passes to 11 interceptions with 3,693 passing yards. He’s clearly found a home in Tampa Bay, now on his third contract with the Buccaneers.

The concern for the Browns is what happens if they play anything like they did against Jacksonville in Week 1. Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence had his way with Cleveland’s defense, going 18-of-23 passing for 245 yards and four touchdown passes with no turnovers. A motivated Mayfield coming off a bad game could present an even bigger challenge for a Browns defense that looked lost against Lawrence.

This will be the Buccaneers’ home opener, and the Browns won’t play in front of their own crowd until Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. Cleveland has to find answers on the road against a quarterback who knows is going to have a chip on his shoulder for the rest of his career. Monken’s praise of Mayfield makes clear he understands exactly what’s waiting for his team in Tampa.