Rapid Reaction: Broncos 26, Buccaneers 7
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers fell to the Denver Broncos 26-7 as miscues piled up for the home team. The Bucs were unable to sustain drives offensively and converted three-of-11 third-down attempts. Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times, and the Tampa Bay defense struggled to get off the field.
On the Broncos' first play from scrimmage, Courtland Sutton gained 22 yards out of hurry-up mode and two plays later, Josh Reynolds picked up 31 yards down the right sideline on a back-shoulder grab. He worked over the top of the Bucs' defense for a chunk play to the Tampa Bay 11-yard line. Quarterback Bo Nix capped off the six-play, 70-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown scramble around the right edge. The Bucs' offense followed suit with a quick three-and-out following a gain of two yards by Rachaad White from third-and-ten.
On the following drive, the Bucs' defense forced a quick punt. Jordan Whitehead forced Jaleel McLaughlin out of bounds on a screen. He diagnosed and got to the spot, limiting McLaughlin's YAC-opportunity. Nix threw an incompletion on third down, forcing a punt.
The Bucs' next drive was halted by a Broncos' takeaway. Brandon Jones intercepted Mayfield and returned it 36 yards to the nine-yard line. The Bucs' defense stood on third-and-goal from the one, stopping Javonte Williams short. Denver challenged the ruling but the play was upheld. The Broncos were able to cash in on fourth down with a one-yard Jaleel McLaughlin run around the right end, giving the Broncos a 14-0 advantage. Tampa Bay's offense stalled after a quick three-and-out as Riley Moss forced an incompletion to Trey Palmer on third down.
The Broncos' ensuing 13-play, 41-yard drive ended in a Will Lutz 43-yard field goal as Tykee Smith and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka stopped Troy Franklin short of the sticks. A third down illegal block above the waist by Powers set up third-and-20 for Denver.
The Bucs turned it over on downs on the subsequent drive after Mayfield's pass to Godwin on fourth-and-two went incomplete. The tide changed on the next Broncos' drive as the Bucs posted their first takeaway of the day. Lavonte David forced a fumble and Logan Hall recovered. Bucky Irving then followed suit by getting to the open field post-cut for a 32-yard gain. Irving pushed the Bucs to first-and-goal at the one with a 13-yard gain.
Mayfield faked a handoff to White and Irving flowed in motion around the opposite end, putting the Bucs in an advantageous field position. The Bucs were able to cash in before the half with a Godwin score. Before the snap from second-and-six, Godwin lined up wide on the left side of the formation. He utilized a quick stutter-step and worked outside to gain enough leverage to spin his body around to secure the catch on a six-yard score. The Bucs trimmed their deficit, 17-7 on the six-play, 67-yard drive. To end the first half, the Broncos came away with three. Chris Braswell brought relentless pressure on third down, forcing Denver to settle for a Lutz 38-yard field goal.
Coming out of the intermission, despite gains of 13-yards by both Cade Otton and Chris Godwin, a sack on Mayfield by John Franklin-Myers for a loss of seven yards and an ensuing incompletion and no gain for White on a screen, the Bucs were forced to punt. The Broncos' offense then fizzled on a three-and-out with a near interception by Tykee Smith on third down. The Bucs managed to cross midfield on the next drive off a couple of Irving plays, but a sack on Mayfield on second down (-8) and an incompletion to Godwin on third down forced another punt inside Raymond James Stadium for the home team.
On the Broncos' following possession, Bo Nix scrambled to the Tampa Bay 31-yard line, forcing several missed tackles for a gain of 22 yards. Two defensive offside penalties by the Bucs at the end of the third quarter set up third-and-four for Denver. The drive culminated in a Lutz 33-yard field goal, making it a 23-7 game. The Bucs' offense followed up with a turnover on downs after a second-down sack of Mayfield and another takedown by the Broncos' defense on fourth down as Mayfield tried to evade pressure.
Tampa Bay's defense then managed to hold the Broncos to three after Tyler Badie took Denver to the Tampa Bay 32-yard line on a 43-yard gain up the middle. Lutz drilled a 43-yarder, extending their lead 26-7. Just before the two-minute warning, a disastrous series occurred for the Bucs. Mayfield was sacked on second down and on third down, a Cade Otton fumble was recovered by Denver's Brandon Jones. Moss knocked the ball out and Jones returned it 34 yards to the Broncos' 47-yard line.
