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Baker Mayfield is going to get an early-season reunion tour through the state where his NFL career first began. With the NFL officially releasing the 2026 schedule, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback will see back-to-back doses of Ohio to open the year as the Buccaneers travel to Cincinnati in Week 1 before returning home for a Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
The Buccaneers will first head to Cincinnati to take on Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and the Bengals in one of the more difficult opening matchups on the NFL calendar. While the Bengals present a major challenge on their own, the game also marks Mayfield’s return to Ohio, the state where he began his NFL journey after being selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay’s home opener against the Browns the following week gives Mayfield a chance to face the franchise that drafted him and where his NFL career experienced both its highest highs and lowest lows. Despite helping lead Cleveland to its first playoff victory in decades, Mayfield’s tenure with the Browns eventually unraveled amid injuries, inconsistency, and organizational changes.
It will also mark the second career game for Mayfield against the Browns.
The timing of the games also adds another interesting layer. Rather than spacing the matchups throughout the season, the NFL essentially stacked Mayfield’s Ohio storylines back to back right out of the gate. The Bengals remain one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses with Burrow throwing to Chase and Tee Higgins, while Cleveland still boasts one of the league’s more talented defensive fronts, highlighted by All-World Myles Garrett. The Buccaneers will have little room for a slow start offensively as they attempt to begin the season against two physical AFC opponents.
Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield has rebuilt both his career and reputation, helping stabilize the Buccaneers post-Tom Brady while emerging as one of the leaders of the franchise. Now, the NFL schedule gives him an early opportunity to revisit the state where everything started.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will be looking for revenge early in 2026
Continue reading...
The Buccaneers will first head to Cincinnati to take on Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and the Bengals in one of the more difficult opening matchups on the NFL calendar. While the Bengals present a major challenge on their own, the game also marks Mayfield’s return to Ohio, the state where he began his NFL journey after being selected first overall by Cleveland in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay’s home opener against the Browns the following week gives Mayfield a chance to face the franchise that drafted him and where his NFL career experienced both its highest highs and lowest lows. Despite helping lead Cleveland to its first playoff victory in decades, Mayfield’s tenure with the Browns eventually unraveled amid injuries, inconsistency, and organizational changes.
It will also mark the second career game for Mayfield against the Browns.
The timing of the games also adds another interesting layer. Rather than spacing the matchups throughout the season, the NFL essentially stacked Mayfield’s Ohio storylines back to back right out of the gate. The Bengals remain one of the NFL’s most explosive offenses with Burrow throwing to Chase and Tee Higgins, while Cleveland still boasts one of the league’s more talented defensive fronts, highlighted by All-World Myles Garrett. The Buccaneers will have little room for a slow start offensively as they attempt to begin the season against two physical AFC opponents.
Since arriving in Tampa Bay, Baker Mayfield has rebuilt both his career and reputation, helping stabilize the Buccaneers post-Tom Brady while emerging as one of the leaders of the franchise. Now, the NFL schedule gives him an early opportunity to revisit the state where everything started.
This article originally appeared on Bucs Wire: Bucs QB Baker Mayfield will be looking for revenge early in 2026
Continue reading...
