The Tampa Bay Buccaneers stumbled out of the gate on the 2026 season Sunday with a 33-27 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. Baker Mayfield put the ball on the ground numerous times in this one, with Tampa Bay's turnover issues ultimately dooming them on a day when their offense otherwise played relatively well.

Up next for the Buccaneers is a home game against the Cleveland Browns, the team that drafted Mayfield number one overall nearly a decade ago, and recently, Browns head coach Todd Monken gave a positive assessment of the quarterback heading into that revenge game.

“He's a great football player and highly competitive, and it's irrespective of playing the Browns. He's very prideful. He wants to play good football, and he's a great football player,” said Monken, per Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com on X, formerly Twitter.

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Mayfield, who recently signed a lucrative extension to stay with the Buccaneers over the long haul, has indeed been known to carry a chip or two on his shoulder over the years, taking jabs at his former teams in the media in addition to taking his anger out on them on the field.

Mayfield has largely played at a solid level during his career with the Buccaneers, although his production tapered off dramatically down the stretch of last season, and his turnover issues reared their ugly head on Sunday against the Bengals.

Perhaps playing against the Browns, who are widely expected to be among the worst teams in the league this year and were blown out on Sunday to open their season against the Jacksonville Jaguars, will be just the opponent Mayfield needs to get himself and the team back on track.