There are four undefeated teams in the NFC heading into Week 3 of the season and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand out in the exclusive group.
Of the seven NFC playoff teams from last season, the Buccaneers are the only one to open 2-0 this season and will try to remain perfect when they play host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
The Buccaneers earned a 20-16 road victory last weekend against the Detroit Lions, turning in just enough defense, and opportunistic offense behind quarterback Baker Mayfield, into a 2-0 record for the fourth consecutive season.
“We’re not out to prove everybody wrong, we’re out to prove ourselves right,” Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said. “We’re hungry, we’re trying to get to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. The same people that are patting us on the back are the same people that were talking about us and expecting us to win none.”
The common denominator in those previous 2-0 starts is that none of them turned into a third consecutive victory, including a 25-11 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 3 last season. The last time Tampa Bay went 3-0 was in 2005.
The Buccaneers exacted a measure of revenge with their win Sunday over the Lions, who eliminated Tampa Bay in last year’s NFC Divisional round of the playoffs.
“We know it’s a long season,” Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum said. “We went 2-0 last year and you all saw what happened. So the leadership on this team has been keeping us together and keeping us grinding, staying humble and focusing on the Broncos.”
Humility is key, especially since Tampa Bay has the 28th-ranked defense in total yards allowed at 381 per game. They have offset that by allowing 18.0 points per game, tied for sixth best in the league.
Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix will try to expose a Buccaneers defense that is 29th overall in passing defense with 242.5 yards allowed per game.
Denver (0-2) gave up just 13 points to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week on 117 passing yards, but scored on just a pair of fourth-quarter field goals from Will Lutz.
Nix had 246 yards passing last week but threw two interceptions and now has four in two games, with no touchdowns. One of those interceptions came in the end zone in the third quarter after Denver had advanced to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line.
The empty drive was otherwise one to remember, with Nix connecting on passes of 26 and 49 yards. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds caught the 49-yarder on a trick play and has nine receptions for 138 of Nix’s 384 total yards.
“(I’m) pleased with what he’s doing,” Nix said of Reynolds. “He played really well down the stretch. He (made) catches and (found) zones in the defense and got us some key conversions.”
Denver is 29th in total offense at 263 yards per game and is one of 10 teams averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. The Buccaneers also are on that list.
The Broncos will lean into a defense that is ninth in the NFL with 277.5 yards allowed per game. After Denver plays at Tampa Bay, it will stay on the road and head to West Virginia to prepare for the New York Jets in Week 4.
“It’s not a make-or-break, but we’re going to have a better idea of where this team is going to be after these next two weeks going on the road,” Denver head coach Sean Payton said. “… Sometimes that can work as a positive relative to your team being together the whole time.”
Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) went on injured reserve Wednesday, while injuries have impacted the defense. Linebacker Baron Browning (foot), defensive end John Franklin-Myers (concussion) and safeties Brandon Jones (foot) and JL Skinner (ankle) all missed practice Wednesday.
Players not practicing for the Buccaneers on Wednesday: defensive lineman William Gholston (knee), tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion), defensive back Josh Hayes (ankle), defensive lineman Calijah Kancey (calf), nose tackle Vita Vea (knee) and safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot).
–Field Level Media