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2h ago

Lightning Halts Browns-Buccaneers With Two Minutes Left

Repeated lightning near Raymond James Stadium triggered the NFL’s 30-minute safety clock, which could require the league to resume the game on a later day under Rule 17.

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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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A weather alert is displayed in the Cleveland Browns game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Overview

  • The game was suspended with two minutes remaining on Sunday with Cleveland leading 23-19 and Tampa Bay in possession and driving toward the end zone.
  • Officials stopped play after lightning strikes in the Tampa area forced players, staff and fans to seek shelter and begin the league’s mandatory 30-minute wait that resets with each new strike.
  • The National Weather Service issued a Special Marine Warning for Tampa Bay that warned of frequent lightning, heavy rain, strong gusts and possible waterspouts, and local forecasts suggested storms could persist for one to two hours.
  • No official restart time has been announced as the delay stretched past an hour, and the NFL could invoke Rule 17 to resume the game on a subsequent day with the existing score, possession, field position, down and time carried over.
  • A lengthy delay or next-day finish would disrupt team travel and preparation schedules and leave the game’s outcome unresolved until the league clears play or reschedules completion.