{
  "id": 8027099,
  "title": "Baker Mayfield sends blunt message on Buccaneers facing former team",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/baker-mayfield-sends-blunt-message-on-buccaneers-facing-former-team",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-17T13:05:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/baker-mayfield-sends-blunt-message-130503064.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are set to begin their 2022 season with a Week 2 matchup against their former divisional rivals, the Cleveland Browns. In Week 1, the Buccaneers suffered a 33-27 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals, largely due to four turnovers, including three by quarterback Baker Mayfield. Mayfield's losses directly resulted in 17 points for the Bengals, proving to be the decisive factor in the game. As the Buccaneers gear up for their home opener against the Browns, the game carries special significance for Mayfield, who spent his first four seasons (2018-2021) with Cleveland as the franchise's No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Upon learning that he and the team would face their former squad in Week 2, Mayfield downplayed the historical context, emphasizing that the key is to focus on the upcoming game. \"It’s the next opponent. Cleveland happens to be the next opponent — our home opener. So, yeah,\" he stated. \"Have a bad taste in our mouth, looking forward to getting it out.\" Mayfield reiterated his previous sentiment that the most important game is always the next one, adding that he needs to rectify his mistakes and improve his performance. Cleveland, too, faces a challenging situation as they enter the game following a disappointing 34-10 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in their Week 1 opener. With their upcoming home game against the Buccaneers, the Browns will be eager to secure their first victory on their road trip to Florida. Head coach Todd Bowles echoed Mayfield's sentiment, emphasizing that the opponent's identity should not be a distraction. \"Baker is a very smart guy,\" Bowles said. \"He understands that he has to play better and take care of the football. That comes first, and then we'll worry about the opponent.\"",
  "summary": "Baker Mayfield comes clean on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers facing his former team, the Cleveland Browns.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Turnover-prone Baker Mayfield turns attention to matchup against Browns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/turnover-prone-baker-mayfield-turns-attention-to-matchup-against",
        "published": "2026-09-14T18:55:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Turnover-prone Baker Mayfield turns attention to matchup against Browns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/turnover-prone-baker-mayfield-turns-attention-to-matchup-against-7379301",
        "published": "2026-09-14T18:55:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}