Preview and prediction for Buccaneers vs Broncos
The 2-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the 0-2 Denver Broncos Sunday afternoon. It’s been 19 seasons since the Bucs had three wins in a row out of the gate.
With only four 3-0 starts in franchise history, each ended with a berth in the postseason. However, not one led to a trip to the Super Bowl.
A different vibe around the 2024 version of the Buccaneers, Sure, last season’s team won the NFC South and a subsequent postseason victory. That was only a 9-8 team during the regular season, however, so a 2-0 start thus far has it well ahead of schedule.
This past Sunday, it was a 20-16 win in a playoff rematch against the Lions in Detroit. If you went just by the stats, then Tampa had no business leaving Motown on the right side of the law.
It was outgained by a staggering 247 yards (463-216). It lost the time-of-possession battle. However, it was the win at the payoff window which was all that mattered, coming on the heels of a 37-20 season-opening victory over the Washington Commanders.
In the Denver Broncos, there’s an opponent which struggles to score. The obligatory growing pains of rookie quarterback Bo Nix have resulted in the Mile High Men with 26 points in their two losses, including 13-6 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.
It’s Tampa Bay as a 6½-point favorite (total at 40), according to NFL odds.
Denver is leading the all-time series, 7-3 (first meeting since 2020).
Broncos Nixing Nix?
So, after the Russell Wilson experiment failed miserably, the Denver Broncos used the No. 12 overall selection in the last draft to select former Oregon Ducks’ quarterback Bo Nix.
Nix was seemingly forever a collegian, and the Broncos loved that he was 24 years old and already a veteran. However, the resume of Nix hasn’t translated into pro success as of yet.
Nix has completed less than 60 percent of his passes (384 passing yards) through two games, a paltry five yards per completion.
That Nix (nine rushes, 60 yards) is leading the team is another indictment. who has only nine carries this season, leads the Broncos in rushing yards with 60. The Broncos, 30th in scoring offense (13 points per game) and 29th in total offense (263 yards/game) need to starting putting fear in the hearts of the other guys, and now,
If this continues, Nix may see the bench in short order. Veterans quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham or Zach Wilson are waiting in the wings.
It’s a fine line between developing a young quarterback and attempting to win right now.
Let us see what sort of magic coach Sean Payton might be able to conjure before the season reaches a point of no return.
Mayfield the Man
Quarterback Baker Mayfield had both a rushing and passing touchdown in the ‘revenge’ win at Detroit last Sunday, continuing an evolution that’s been mind-boggling but not surprising. Through two games, he has 474 passing yards (five touchdowns, one interception).
Remember this was No. 1 overall selection by the Cleveland Browns back in 2018.
In each of his first four seasons, Mayfield had at least 3,000 passing yards. He struggled during an inconsistent final season with the Browns (17 touchdowns but 13 interceptions).
The Mayfield sojourn then went to the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams in one-and- done seasons before getting his opportunity with Tampa Bay.
He hasn’t made people forget about some guy by the name of Brady, but he ain’t bad.
Armed with a new contract, Mayfield is the current face of the franchise. Results aren’t always pretty, but 2-0 (with a good shot at 3-0) tends to quiet the naysayers.
Back the Bucs
Denver is a rank-outsider 150-1 (+15000) to win the AFC, Tampa Bay 18-1 (+1800) to win the NFC, as per NFL conference odds.
An intriguing sidelight of the game is the Oregon Ducks’ backfield reunion of Denver quarterback Bo Nix and Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving (16 carries, 84 yards to date).
Once those pregame pleasantries are out of the way, the visitors need to move the chains and score some points. Denver has averaged just 99 yards on the ground, The two starting backs, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, are below three yards per carry thus far.
There’s not much to endorse about the Broncos in the early portion of the season, though in fairness Denver’s defense is ninth, having surrendered 277½ yards/game through two games.
Regardless, since it ain’t broke, we’re not out to fix it. Take Tampa Bay -6½ Sunday afternoon.