5 winners and 2 losers from Browns’ Week 2 win vs. Buccaneers: Deshaun Watson outplays Baker Mayfield with his back against the wall
The Browns are 1-1 on the 2026 season after a huge road win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 2.
The Cleveland Browns traveled to Tampa Bay in Week 2 and shocked just about everyone by beating Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers on the road. It was a strange game. A lightning delay hit with roughly two minutes remaining, forcing both teams inside for an extended period. Still, the Browns came out of that break on the winning side, 23-19.
Cleveland was able to get the offense going in the second half after managing just six points in the first half, trailing Tampa Bay by three at the intermission. There were plenty of positives to take away from this one, so here is the stock up and stock down report from the game.
Stock up: WR Denzel Boston
The rookie wide receiver has to be the first name mentioned. Boston caught five passes for 95 yards and one touchdown on a 55-yard strike across the middle of the field where he broke a tackle and would not be caught. Boston now has two touchdowns through his first two NFL games, and he looks the part of a legitimate top receiver the Browns now have at their disposal.
Stock up: QB Deshaun Watson
Watson went 24-of-30 for 238 passing yards and two touchdowns while being sacked just twice. This was Watson’s best game as a member of the Browns. He visibly got more comfortable moving around, getting out of the pocket and running, and throwing the ball down the field. Watson will play his first home game in nearly two years next week against the Carolina Panthers, and this second game on the road was a good launching pad for him returning home in front of Browns fans. There was talk of Watson being benched, that’ll have to wait for now.
Stock up: DT Mason Graham
The second-year defensive tackle had three tackles and one sack against Tampa Bay. That’s two games in a row where Graham has recorded a sack. He’s in store for what looks like a big season if he continues to play this way, and there wasn’t a Browns defensive lineman better than him on Sunday.
Stock up: CB Myles Harden
Harden was able to pick off Mayfield and made five tackles in this game. After having a tough Week 1, Harden bounced back in a big way. He needs commended for that.
Stock up: K Andre Szmyt
The Browns kicker was 3-of-3 on his field goals with a long of 50, and Cleveland doesn’t win this game without him putting up the points he did. The Browns’ kicking game is in a good spot right now, and Szmyt needs to continue that.
Stock down: RT Tytus Howard
Howard was beat for a sack and gave up multiple pressures. He looks like the weak link on the Browns offensive line right now, and that’s just too bad because he’s a veteran right tackle Cleveland acquired in the offseason. Howard is playable, but the play has to improve on the right side of the offensive line with him next to rookie right guard Austin Barber. He can’t play this poorly and expect good things. It was not a good day for Howard.
Stock down: RB Quinshon Judkins
Judkins did catch five passes for 27 yards, but he’s just not able to get going on the ground right now. It’s not totally an indictment on him. The running lanes and even the play calling for the run game aren’t great at this point. A week after Judkins had just 12 carries for 33 yards, he followed it up with 12 carries for 21 yards against the Buccaneers. That little production is not sustainable, and the Browns are going to have to find a way to get the run game going at some point.
