Central Florida News
Buccaneers Stunned by Browns 23-19 in Home Opener, Fall to 0-2
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — The Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ home opener ended in disappointment Sunday as the Cleveland Browns handed Tampa Bay a 23-19 loss, dropping the Buccaneers to 0-2 to start the season.
The Buccaneers had opportunities to take control but were hurt by penalties, missed tackles and an inability to consistently finish drives in the end zone. A weather delay late in the game added another challenge, but Tampa Bay players and coaches refused to use the conditions as an excuse.
Bowles: ‘Nobody Is Coming to Save Us’
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles pointed directly to Tampa Bay’s mistakes after the loss.
“Too many penalties, offensively. Too many missed tackles in the second half, defensively,” Bowles said. “Nobody is coming to save us. We have to fix ourselves and we have to fix it in a hurry.”
Bowles repeated that message when discussing the team’s 0-2 start, saying the Buccaneers have faced adversity before but now must respond quickly.
“We’ve dealt with adversity before. This is an adverse situation again,” Bowles said. “We’re 0-2 right now and we have to pull ourselves up by our boots, and we’ve got to win.”
Defensively, Bowles said missed tackles contributed to Cleveland’s success, including a touchdown by Browns wide receiver Denzel Boston after two Tampa Bay defenders collided and failed to make the tackle.
Mayfield Frustrated by Missed Opportunities
Quarterback Baker Mayfield said Tampa Bay’s inability to convert opportunities in the red zone proved costly. The Buccaneers settled for field goals instead of touchdowns and struggled with negative plays.
Mayfield said the frustration comes from knowing how close the offense is to producing better results.
“I’m frustrated because it’s close. You can feel it. You can see it,” Mayfield said. “We’re moving the ball at times, and then just shooting ourselves in the foot.”
He added that the Buccaneers must become more self-critical and stop repeating the same mistakes.
Asked how surprised he was to see Tampa Bay begin the season with consecutive losses, Mayfield did not hide his reaction.
“Pretty shocked,” Mayfield said. “But, that’s where we’re at, so [we have to] fight our way out.”
Late Weather Delay Adds to Dramatic Finish
The game was also disrupted by a late weather delay. Bowles said both teams faced the same circumstances and rejected the delay as an excuse for Tampa Bay’s performance.
“They were doing the same thing. That’s not an excuse,” Bowles said. “We were ready to play.”
Left tackle Tristan Wirfs was more critical of the timing. He said players worked to stay loose, warm and hydrated during the interruption.
“I thought it was ridiculous with two minutes left in the game to call a lightning delay from ten miles away,” Wirfs said. “But, I don’t make the rules.”
Buccaneers Say They Beat Themselves
Wide receiver Ted Hurst III said Cleveland did not do anything defensively that made Tampa Bay incapable of moving the football.
“I feel like nobody can stop our offense — it’s just self-evaluating, doing your job and doing it to the best of your ability,” Hurst said.
Asked directly whether it felt like the Buccaneers beat themselves, Hurst responded, “Yeah, I would say that.”
Linebacker Alex Anzalone offered a similarly direct assessment of the Buccaneers’ position after two games.
“We’re in a bit of a hole. We’ve gotta dig ourselves out of it,” Anzalone said. He said the process begins with Wednesday’s practice and correcting the mistakes that have contributed to Tampa Bay’s winless start.
Irving: ‘We Are Going to Get This Thing Fixed’
Running back Bucky Irving urged the Buccaneers to follow the NFL’s traditional 24-hour approach — evaluate the loss, learn from it and move forward.
Irving said he is not concerned about outside criticism and views the early struggles as adversity the team can learn from.
“Let’s just learn from this game and move on to the [Minnesota] Vikings,” Irving said. “We are going to get this thing fixed in no time.”
The Buccaneers now face an early-season test: correct the penalties, improve tackling, finish drives with touchdowns and find a way out of an 0-2 hole.
Central Florida News
Commissioner Uribe Announces New Date for Hispanic Heritage Festival Due to Weather
ORLANDO, Fla. (FNN) — Commissioner Uribe announced that the Hispanic Heritage Festival has been rescheduled due to weather conditions. The event will now take place Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, from 9 a.m. to noon at Cypress Grove Park, 290 Holden Ave., Orlando.
The festival will celebrate the rich history, cultures, traditions and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities through live music, dance performances, food and community resources.
Scheduled highlights include:
- Live music by youth orchestra The Nucleus Orchestral.
- Dance performances featuring Maria Saavedra of FusionFest with Huellas de Colombia, Unidos for Ecuador and Mexico Dansa.
- Food from Zaza.
- Community resources from 311 and other participants.
Join Commissioner Uribe and the community for a morning celebrating Hispanic and Latino heritage.
NEW DATE: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
TIME: 9 a.m. to noon
LOCATION: Cypress Grove Park
ADDRESS: 290 Holden Ave., Orlando, FL 32839
New team will debut at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027 as fans help shape the franchise’s identity
TAMPA, Fla. (FNN SPORTS) — UPSHOT League officially announced the arrival of professional women’s basketball in Tampa Bay, with the new franchise scheduled to begin play at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027.
UPSHOT Tampa branding unveiled as the league prepares for its inaugural 2027 season in Tampa Bay. Image courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.
Owner Morgan Busby introduced the vision behind bringing elite women’s basketball to the region, while Garland Cooper was announced as team president. UPSHOT Deputy Commissioner Taj McWilliams-Franklin also joined the launch alongside local leaders as the organization emphasized community involvement, fan experience and competitive excellence as core parts of the franchise.
FAN INVOLVEMENT: The Tampa franchise does not yet have an official team name. Fans are being invited to submit ideas and take part in helping shape the team’s identity ahead of its inaugural season. Season-ticket deposits and founding membership opportunities are also available.
UPSHOT Tampa President Garland Cooper speaks with media following the announcement of Tampa Bay’s new professional women’s basketball franchise. Photo courtesy of UPSHOT Tampa.
Community outreach began immediately with a “Shoe a Day” initiative supporting young athletes in the Tampa Bay area. During media availability, Cooper also spoke about the importance of giving young girls an opportunity to see what is possible through professional women’s sports.
Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise and Advisory Board Chair Kathleen Shanahan were among the community leaders in attendance, highlighting the potential economic and social impact of adding another professional sports organization to the region.
INAUGURAL SEASON: UPSHOT Tampa is scheduled to tip off at the Yuengling Center in summer 2027, adding professional women’s basketball to an established Tampa Bay sports market that already includes the Buccaneers, Lightning and Rays.
The team name, branding and additional franchise details are expected to be announced as the organization continues building toward its first season.
– Nisey Spruill is a reporter and photojournalist for Florida National News (FNN), covering major news, sports and special events across Florida and nationwide. Contact sports@FloridaNationalNews.com
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