TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Rookie Bo Nix ran for an early touchdown and Will Lutz kicked four field goals Sunday to help the Denver Broncos avoid starting 0-3 for the second straight season with a 26-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Nix completed 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards without an interception. The 12th overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, however, still hasn’t thrown for a TD through three games.
Denver’s defense did its part in helping Nix rebound from struggling the previous two weeks, too, sacking Baker Mayfield seven times and intercepting the Bucs quarterback once to set up a second-quarter touchdown. The Broncos (1-2) also turned away two Tampa Bay possessions in Denver territory in the fourth quarter, stopping one drive on downs and forcing a fumble on the other.
The three-time defending NFC South champion Bucs (2-1), looking to start a season with three consecutive victories for the first time since 2005, was limited to 223 yards total offense. Mayfield was 25 of 33 passing for 163 yards, including a 6-yard scoring throw to Chris Godwin in the second quarter.
In 20 drives — excluding the end of a half — under Nix in the first two games, the Broncos had just two touchdowns and two field goals to go with 11 punts, three interceptions and two turnovers on downs. On Sunday, the rookie got off to a much better start — with completions of 22, 6 and 31 yards on the first three plays to move Denver downfield after the opening kickoff.
Nix finished the six-play, 70-yard drive with a 2-yard TD run. Later in the first quarter, the Broncos turned Brandon Jones’ interception and 37-yard return to the Tampa Bay 9 into Jaleel McLaughlin’s 1-yard scoring run for a 14-point lead that Lutz expanded to 17-0 with a 43-yard field goal.
The Bucs dominated No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in Week 1. The loss to Nix dropped Tampa Bay to 11-6 against opposing rookie quarterbacks since coach Todd Bowles joined the team as defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians in 2019.
Injuries
The Buccaneers played without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield, Jr (foot) and starting DL Vita Vea (knee) and Calijah Kancey (calf) and RT Luke Goedeke (concussion), who were inactive. … Long snapper Evan Deckers left with a hamstring injury in the secod half.
Up next
Broncos: Remain on the road to face the New York Jets next Sunday.
Buccaneers: Host Philadelphia in a rematch of a NFC wild-card matchup won by Tampa Bay last January.
