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The 2-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers will host the 0-2 Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon. This will be the first time in 19 seasons that the Buccaneers have won three straight games to start the season.
There have only been four 3-0 starts in franchise history, and all of them resulted in a berth in the postseason.
But none of that translated into a Super Bowl appearance.
There’s a different vibe about the 2024 Buccaneers. Sure, last season’s team won the NFC South and then the postseason, but for a team that went 9-8 in the regular season, a 2-0 start so far is way ahead of schedule.
Tampa beat the Lions 20-16 in a playoff rematch last Sunday in Detroit. Looking at the statistics alone, it seems Tampa should not have left Motown on the perimeter of the law.
They were outgained in receiving yards by 247 (216-463) and lost the time of possession battle, but most importantly, they won the payoff window on the heels of a 37-20 season-opening win over the Washington Commanders.
The Denver Broncos have been a tough team to score against. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix struggling with growing pains, the Mile High Men have managed just 26 points in their two losses, including a 13-6 defeat at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday.
Tampa Bay is favored by 6.5 points (40 total). NFL Odds.
Denver leads the series 7-3 (first meeting since 2020).
Broncos denying Nix?
Broncos QB Bo Nix – Photo courtesy of USA Today
So after the Russell Wilson experiment failed miserably, the Denver Broncos used the 12th overall pick in the last draft to select former Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix.
Nicks seems like a forever college player, and the Broncos were pleased that he was already a veteran at 24. But his resume hasn’t translated into pro success so far.
Through two games, the Knicks have completed less than 60 percent of their passes (384 yards) and just five yards per completion. 4 interceptions That ties him with Colts’ Anthony Richardson for the most in the league.
It’s another indictment that Nicks (nine rushes, 60 yards) leads the team in rushing yards on just nine carries this season. Nicks leads the Broncos in rushing yards with 60. Ranked 30th in scoring offense (13 points per game) and 29th in total offense (263 yards per game), the Broncos need to start instilling fear in others.
If the situation continues, the Knicks may soon find themselves benched, with veteran quarterbacks Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson waiting in the wings.
There’s a fine line between developing a young quarterback and wanting to win right now.
Let’s see what magic coach Sean Payton can work before the season reaches a point of no return.
Mayfield the Man
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Quarterback Baker Mayfield continues his incredible progress by rushing and passing for touchdowns in last Sunday’s “revenge” win at Detroit, but that’s no surprise: Through two games, he has passed for 474 yards (five touchdowns, one interception).
Remember, he was the No. 1 overall pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2018.
Mayfield passed for at least 3,000 yards in each of his first four seasons, but struggled with inconsistent production in his final season with the Browns (17 touchdowns, 13 interceptions).
Mayfield then spent one-off seasons with the Carolina Panthers and Los Angeles Rams before getting an opportunity with Tampa Bay.
He hasn’t made people forget about a guy named Brady, but he’s not bad.
Mayfield, newly signed, is now the face of the franchise, and while his records haven’t always been great, a 2-0 record (and a 3-0 record is a possibility) tends to silence the naysayers.
Support the Buccaneers
Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles – Photo courtesy of USA Today
Denver is ranked 150-1 (+15,000) out to win the AFC, while Tampa Bay is in a pretty good position to win the NFC at 18-1 (+1,800). NFL Conference Odds.
An interesting byproduct of this game was the reunion of Denver quarterback Bo Nix and Tampa Bay running back Bucky Irving (16 carries, 84 yards) in the Oregon Ducks backfield.
Once the pregame greetings are over, the visitors will need to move the chains and score points. Denver is averaging just 99 yards on the ground, and their two starting backs, Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, are each allowing less than three yards per carry so far.
There isn’t much to praise about the Broncos so far this season, but in fairness, Denver’s defense is allowing 277.5 yards per game through two games, good for ninth.
Either way, it ain’t broke so I’m not going to fix it. Tampa Bay takes the win at -6½ on Sunday afternoon.
