The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have stumbled out to a 0-2 start in the first two games of the 2026 NFL campaign, having dropped both of their games against Ohio-based opponents.

They were bested by a 33-27 final in Week 1 on the road against the Cincinnati Bengals, followed by Sunday's 23-19 loss at home to the visiting Cleveland Browns at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay.

Following the loss, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles pointed to a familiar culprit behind the loss – penalties and missed tackles.

“Nobody is coming to save us, you know? The penalties and missed tackles, we have to correct ourselves and we have to do it in a hurry,” Bowles said via Bucs beat writer Greg Auman on X, formerly known as Twitter. “We've dealt with adversity before. This is an adverse situation again, the first time at the beginning of the season … we have to pull ourselves up by our boots and we've got to win.”

During the loss, the Buccaneers were called for six penalties, resulting in 62 yards lost.

Meanwhile, quarterback Baker Mayfield, who recently signed an extension with Tampa Bay, said that his club can't keep making the same mistakes over and over again and expect positive results.

“Just can’t keep making the same mistakes over and over,” he said via PewterReport on X. “It’s shooting ourselves in the foot. Not making the plays when we need them… These are fixable things, but that also makes it more frustrating.”

Bowles, Mayfield, and the Bucs will have a chance to right the ship when they face the Minnesota Vikings at home in Week 3 next Sunday.