Buccaneers vs. Broncos: Is Tampa Bay's Hot Start About to Go Up in Smoke?

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) will try to maintain their hot start to the season when they host the Denver Broncos (0-2) on Sunday afternoon. Tampa Bay opened the campaign with a 17-point win over Washington before going on the road and upsetting Detroit last week. Denver is hoping to pull off an upset of its own after losing to Seattle and Pittsburgh in its first two games. The Buccaneers cruised to a 28-10 win in the last meeting between these teams, which came at the beginning of the 2020 season.

The Buccaneers' offense is led by quarterback Baker Mayfield, who is playing some of the best football of his career. Mayfield has thrown for 544 yards and five touchdowns in two games, and he has been especially impressive in the red zone. He also has the third-most touchdown passes (33) since joining the Buccaneers last season, throwing four against Washington in this year's opener.

The Buccaneers' defense is also playing at a high level. Tampa Bay has allowed just 18 points per game this season, and they have been particularly stingy against the run. They have been especially tough against rookie quarterbacks, like Bo Nix, whom they will be facing on Sunday.

The Broncos' offense has struggled to find its rhythm this season. Quarterback Bo Nix has thrown for 384 yards, zero touchdowns and four interceptions in two games, and he has been sacked 10 times. Denver's running game has also been ineffective, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry.

The Broncos' defense is playing well, but they will have their hands full with the Buccaneers' offense. Tampa Bay's offensive line is one of the best in the league, and they have a number of playmakers on the outside, including Chris Godwin and Mike Evans.

The Buccaneers are favored by 6 points in the latest Buccaneers vs. Broncos odds via SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 41 points. The model also ranked in the top 10 on NFLPickWatch four of the past six years on straight-up NFL picks and beat more than 94% of CBS Sports Football Pick'em players four times during that span. Anyone who has followed it is way up. The model has set its sights on Denver vs. Tampa Bay. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks.

Game Preview

The Broncos are trying to avoid an 0-3 hole to start the season and they'll need a far better offensive effort after losing 13-6 to the Steelers last week. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw for 246 yards, but also was intercepted twice. Denver couldn't get anything going on the ground as Nix was the leading rusher with 25 yards. Starting running back Javonte Williams averaged only 1.5 yards per carry.

Denver will be without offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey (MCL) for at least the next four games after he was placed on injured reserve this week. Linebacker Baron Browning (foot) and safety JL Skinner (safety) have been ruled out. See who to back at SportsLine.

Key Matchups

The Buccaneers are looking to contain the Broncos' run game, which has been struggling this season. If they can get to Nix and disrupt his timing, they'll be in good shape. The Buccaneers need to be aware of the Broncos' strong defense and must be prepared for a tough battle.

What to Watch For

The Bucs are looking to build on their hot start, while the Broncos are looking to bounce back from a disappointing start to the season. It will be interesting to see how the Buccaneers' offense fares against the Broncos' defense, which has been one of the best in the league this season. It will also be interesting to see how the Broncos' offense performs against the Buccaneers' defense, which has been very good against the run.

Final Thoughts

The Buccaneers are the better team on paper, but the Broncos have a history of pulling off upsets. The key for the Buccaneers will be to avoid turnovers and play their game. If they can do that, they should be able to get the win. The Broncos need to get something going on offense and play better on defense. If they can do that, they will have a chance to pull off an upset.

Don't Miss The Game

The Buccaneers vs. Broncos game kicks off on FOX at 1 p.m. ET (Noon CT) from Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. You can also stream the game on Fubo or DirecTV Stream.

What You Should Know

The Buccaneers are favored by 6 points in the latest Buccaneers vs. Broncos odds via SportsLine consensus, and the over/under is 41 points.
The model is leaning Over, and it also says one side of the spread hits nearly 60% of the time. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.