On Sunday, former Clemson star Deshaun Watson played one of his best games in a Cleveland Browns uniform.

In Week 2 of the NFL season, Watson led the Browns (1-1) to a 23-19 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

It marks Watson’s first win since September 15, 2024 (Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season), when the Browns defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 18-13. It also marks first-year Browns coach Todd Monken’s first win as an NFL head coach.

Watson completed 24-of-30 passes for 238 yards with two touchdowns and no turnovers. He posted a 121.9 passer rating and also rushed for 22 yards on seven carries.

The three-time Pro Bowler connected with rookie receiver Denzel Boston on a 55-yard touchdown with 1:23 left in the third quarter to tie the game at 16. Watson then threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Blake Whiteheart to give Cleveland a 23-19 lead with 3:51 remaining. He converted four times on third down on that game-winning drive.

Following a lengthy weather delay at the two-minute warning of the fourth quarter,

It was a nice bounce-back performance for Watson after he struggled heavily last Sunday in his return from a long absence, completing 16 of 22 passes for 205 yards and one touchdown with one interception in a Week 1 loss to Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars.

Watson’s extensive layoff followed consecutive Achilles tears — the first sustained in October 2024 and a second tear that wiped out his 2025 season. Monken named Watson the Browns’ starting QB over Shedeur Sanders following an offseason competition.

Watson, who turned 31 on Sept. 14, is in the final year of his fully guaranteed $230 million contract that he signed in March 2022 after being traded to Cleveland from the Houston Texans.

The Browns return home to face the Carolina Panthers next Sunday in Week 3.