The Cleveland Browns picked up an impressive 23-19 victory on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, improving to 1-1 on the season. The flight home on that United Airlines Boeing 777 charter flight from KTPA to Hopkins was undoubtedly much more enjoyable than the 34-10 regular-season opener loss in Jacksonville.

While a lot of people talk about quarterback Deshaun Watson incessantly, and he did have a very, very good game for once, let’s focus on some of the other guys who do not get their names talked about as much.

Blake Whiteheart Scored Game-Winning TD

The Browns were trailing 19-16 with less than four minutes remaining in regulation heading into the red zone. Watson was able to find Blake Whiteheart on a 17-yard touchdown pass into the back of the end zone, putting the Browns ahead 22-19. The extra point by placekicker Andre Szmyt was also crucial, and he handled his job with aplomb, forcing the Bucs to have to go the distance of the field if they wanted to win.

The catch was Whiteheart’s only touch of the game, and he was targeted twice. The 26-year-old backup tight end from Wake Forest is in his fourth season, all with the Browns. He has 30 NFL games under his belt, and the 17-yard touchdown was just his second score as a pro, and the second-longest catch of his career.

Welcome Mekhi Blackmon, Noah Igbinoghene

Browns cornerbacks Mekhi Blackmon and Noah Igbinoghene didn’t even start the summer with the organization. You might have missed the transactions late in August, but both players were claimed off of the discard pile.

Blackmon, a former third-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2023, came to Cleveland via waivers from the Indianapolis Colts. He recorded his first two tackles with the team, both of the solo variety, while adding his pass defensed.

Igbinoghene was having a good camp with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, but he just missed the cut. The Browns were glad to add him to the secondary room. The former first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2020 saw his first action with the team in Week 2, recording two solo stops.

Safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, a second-round pick out of Toledo in 2026, posted three solo tackles. He has logged six total stops with four solo stops through two games, as he continues to come along nicely.

Rookies Austin Barber, Spencer Fano Continue to Impress

OK, perhaps Fano isn’t necessarily a sleeper, as he WAS the No. 9 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. But, offensive tackles never seem to get their name mentioned unless it’s because there is yellow laundry on the field.

some real DAWGS 😤 pic.twitter.com/4QmI7IRVnb

— Cleveland Browns (@Browns) September 21, 2026

For Barber, the third-round pick out of the University of Florida, he started for a second straight game in place of the injured offensive guard Teven Jenkins (back). Barber might have pushed his way into being a permanent fixture, forcing Jenkins to the bench, when he is healthy.

Barber and Fano did not allow any quarterback pressures in Week 2, quite the feat for a rookie tandem of offensive linemen.

Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.

This story was originally published September 21, 2026 at 5:58 PM.