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6h ago

Browns Beat Buccaneers 23-19 After More Than Two-Hour Lightning Delay

NFL lightning-safety rules forced an evacuation that restarted a 30-minute clock with each new strike, stretching the pause and delaying the game's decisive two-minute sequence.

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Sep 20, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; The game is suspended during the fourth quarter between Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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Overview

  • The game was halted by lightning with two minutes remaining on Sunday, leaving Cleveland ahead 23-19 while Tampa Bay drove for a potential go-ahead touchdown.
  • The mandatory lightning delay stretched more than two hours before both teams returned for warmups shortly after 6 p.m. ET.
  • When play resumed the Buccaneers reached the Cleveland 13-yard line but a holding penalty and a missed fourth-and-11 ended the drive, and the Browns held on to win 23-19.
  • The National Weather Service issued special and marine warnings for the Tampa Bay area and heavy rain left puddles and streaming water in the stadium, while NFL protocol requires a 30-minute wait after the last nearby strike and restarts that clock on each new strike.
  • Deshaun Watson finished 24-of-30 for 238 yards and two touchdowns to lead Cleveland to its first win of the season, and the long delay highlighted operational challenges for teams, stadium staff and league officials without forcing a reschedule under NFL Rule 17.