Deshaun Watson threw two second-half touchdown passes as the Cleveland Browns rallied from 10 points down to beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23–19 on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.
Watson connected with rookie Denzel Boston for a 55-yard touchdown in the third quarter, then found Blake Whiteheart for the winning 17-yard score with 3:51 remaining in the fourth.
Watson completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions, finishing with a 121.9 passer rating. He added 22 rushing yards on seven carries, including the final kneel-down.
Cleveland earned its first win of the season and improved to 1–1 after opening with a 34–10 loss at Jacksonville. Tampa Bay fell to 0–2.
Two second-half touchdown drives
Tampa Bay led 16–6 after Baker Mayfield’s five-yard touchdown pass to Emeka Egbuka and Chase McLaughlin’s extra point with 9:33 left in the third quarter. Andre Szmyt’s third field goal cut Cleveland’s deficit to seven points.
Watson’s 55-yard touchdown pass to Boston came with 1:23 left in the third quarter, completing a three-play, 83-yard possession. Szmyt’s extra point tied the game at 16–16.
McLaughlin’s fourth field goal put Tampa Bay ahead 19–16 with 9:58 remaining. Cleveland’s next possession covered 68 yards in 12 plays, with a recorded drive time of 6:07.
Watson converted a third-and-four with a six-yard scramble and a third-and-three with a nine-yard completion to Boston. He also completed a six-yard pass to Harold Fannin Jr. on third-and-one.
An eight-yard completion to Boston brought Cleveland to the Tampa Bay 17. On third-and-two, Watson threw the touchdown pass to Whiteheart. Szmyt’s extra point made it 23–19.
Boston finished with five catches for 95 yards and a touchdown. Fannin caught five passes for 54 yards.
Cleveland stops Tampa Bay’s final drive
Inclement weather suspended play with two minutes left in the fourth quarter and Cleveland leading 23–19.
After play resumed, Tampa Bay reached the Cleveland 13 before an offensive holding penalty moved the Buccaneers back to the 23. Mayfield later scrambled for three yards, leaving fourth-and-11 from the Cleveland 20.
Mayfield’s pass intended for Egbuka fell incomplete on a play that began with 22 seconds left. Cleveland took possession with 18 seconds remaining, and Watson knelt to end the game.
