The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have officially revealed their 2026 schedule. Following the news, NFL insider Adam Schefter cannot hold back his excitement to see Baker Mayfield clash against his former team, the Cleveland Browns.

The Buccaneers are facing the Browns on September 20 at Raymond James Stadium. Schefter projected it to be a thrilling game in the latest episode of 'The Adam Schefter Podcast,' as the Browns and Mayfield’s journey ended on an unceremonious note.

“Their home opener is against the Cleveland Browns in Week 2. We know how much Baker has kept receipts,” Schefter said. “We know that he's aware of all the people and all the teams that have written him off. The first NFL team to write him off was the Cleveland Browns.”

It began when the Browns selected Mayfield as the first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. In the four seasons Mayfield played for the Browns, he threw for 14,125 yards and scored 92 touchdowns. 

In his last season with the Browns, Mayfield played through a left shoulder injury that he had sustained against the Houston Texans.

It was a pivotal season for both him and the franchise, as the Browns went ahead and traded him off in favor of Deshaun Watson.

Watson signed a guaranteed five-year, $230 million contract, but has played in just 19 games since 2022. He has been away from the gridiron since he ruptured his right Achilles tendon in 2024 and then ruptured it again the following year.

While he was at his career best and regarded as one of the best quarterbacks before the trade, Watson amassed just 3,365 passing yards for 19 touchdowns for the Browns. Unfortunately, his production was way less than what Mayfield did as the QB1. 

The trajectory certainly hurt Mayfield, who previously stated in January that he was “shipped off like a piece of garbage” to the Carolina Panthers. 

Since then, the quarterback crossed the 4,000 passing yards mark with the Buccaneers. Apart from Schefter, Browns insiders are also weighing in on how significant this impending game is.

Tensions Bound To Resurface When The Browns Face Mayfield

In the 'Orange and Browns' podcast, insider Mary Kay Cabot discussed how this game is going to be a spectacle.

“Baker Mayfield will have no trouble whatsoever getting his game face on for this game against the Browns coming to town,” Cabot said. “All he has to tell himself they cast me aside for Deshaun Watson, and look how it went. ‘How do you like me now, Cleveland?’”

Watson is returning to the field, finally cleared to play this season. While Mayfield found his footing with the Buccaneers, the Browns still haven’t found their franchise quarterback. 

Moreover, he would also be facing star edge rusher Myles Garrett, who reportedly remained unaffected by the QB’s exit. 

“I really I didn't say anything. I didn't really have much to say, and I didn't know how reply to it, so I didn't,” Garrett revealed to Cabot in 2022.

Week 2 is set to be a thrilling and tense watch for the Dawg Pound. Who do you think would emerge victorious from this game? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Akanksha Biradar

Edited by

Rishab Nandi