Bucs vs. Broncos: Pewter Predictions For Week 3

BUCS vs. BRONCOS

WHEN: Sunday, September 22, 2024 | WHERE: Raymond James Stadium (Tampa, FL) | KICKOFF: 1:00 p.m. ET | TV: FOX

PLAY-BY-PLAY: Tim Brando | ANALYST: Matt Millen | SIDELINE: Sarah Kustok

RADIO: 98 ROCK 97.9 FM | PLAY-BY-PLAY: Gene Deckerhoff | ANALYST: Dave Moore | SIDELINE: T.J. Rives

Game day is approaching, and it’s time for the Pewter Report staff to make its weekly game predictions and offer up our game preview of this week’s matchup. Let us know what you think in the article comments section and add your prediction, too.

Scott Reynolds: The Bucs Use The Elements To Break The Broncos

Temperatures were in the 70s in the Mile High City this week as the 0-2 Broncos practiced for this week’s game against the 2-0 Bucs. When the Broncos board the plane to leave Denver on Saturday morning it’s going to be in the upper 40s – a far cry from the hot and humid conditions the team will face on Sunday in Tampa when they’ll take the field at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday when it will be 88 degrees and muggy. In the second half, the temperature will reach 90 with a “feels like” temperature of about 100 degrees when factoring in the humidity. The crisp mountain air the Broncos are used to will not be found in Florida.

That – and a much more talented roster – will help the Bucs subdue a Broncos team that is struggling offensively with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who has thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns in his first two starts. Denver can’t throw the ball nor can the team run it, and that’s good news for a Tampa Bay defense that will be without starting defensive tackles Vita Vea and Calijah and All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield Jr. once again.

The Broncos’ defense is better than the Commanders’ unit, but not as good as the Lions’ defense a week ago. Still, the Bucs have too many weapons and quarterback Baker Mayfield is playing too well for the Broncos to pull off an upset in Tampa Bay. The only way that happens is if the Bucs get careless with the ball and the turnover margin is out of whack in the Broncos’ favor. But this Tampa Bay is too focused right. Expect a dominant performance as the Bucs improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2005.

REYNOLDS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 31, Broncos 13
REYNOLDS’ SEASON RECORD: 2-0

Matt Matera: Bucs Overmatch The Broncos

This should be a blowout game for the Bucs. There’s no other way to explain it. Good teams pummel up on weaker opponents and that’s exactly what Tampa Bay should do. If they can defeat the Lions missing some of their best players on the road, they should be able to do so against the Broncos. There are things Tampa Bay’s offense and defense needs to work on, so this is an opportunity to fine tune some areas.

I’m not concerned about the Bucs missing right tackle Luke Goedeke for another game or that the Bucs will be without defensive tackle Calijah Kancey again and likely without Vita Vea. Justin Skule won’t be going up against Aidan Hutchinson again, he’ll be able to hold his own a bit more. C.J. Brewer, Mike Greene have been formidable backups getting elevated from the practice squad, and role player Greg Gaines proved he can step up in the absence of the starters.

Tampa Bay will have to deal wit blitz-heavy Broncos team. That’ll be a challenge for the offensive line to protect Baker Mayfield, but Baker Mayfield is playing at an MVP level and can overcome what Denver throws at him. Mike Evans against Patrick Surtain is a premiere matchup, but it’s all about the Bucs getting the ground game going with Rachaad White and Bucky Irving. Also, playing against rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who struggles throwing the ball down the field, means there are seveeral turnover chances for the defense on Sunday.

MATERA’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 31, Broncos 10
MATERA’S SEASON RECORD: 1-1

Bailey Adams: Bucs Outclass Broncos To Remain Unbeaten

On paper, this shouldn’t be close. That doesn’t mean it won’t be, but I’m going to live by what it says on the paper — at least this time. The Bucs are just a much more talented team, and unlike some past Bucs teams, I trust this one to get the job done against a lesser opponent. Baker Mayfield is off to a hot start, as is Chris Godwin. Mike Evans scored twice in Week 1 and I think he’ll have another big day at home on Sunday. And I believe the combination of Rachaad White and Bucky Irving will finally get the run game going against a Denver defense allowing north of 140 rushing yards per game this season.

Considering my good feelings on the Buccaneers offense, Todd Bowles’ defense shouldn’t have to do all that much to complement the effort from Mayfield and Co. in order to win the game. Yet, I think they will. This is a Broncos offense that has yet to figure it out on the ground or through the air, and I like Tampa Bay to get to rookie quarterback Bo Nix for 3-5 sacks and potentially a couple more interceptions. The Broncos’ inability to run the ball hasn’t helped Nix so far, and I don’t know that he’ll get much more help in this one either.

The only real hope for Denver (barring an out-of-nowhere breakout game from Nix) is the defense doing enough to keep this a low-scoring affair. If that happens and Tampa Bay’s offense isn’t executing, perhaps there will be just enough room for the visitors to take advantage for the upset. But I don’t see it happening. The Bucs take care of business in a big way to improve to 3-0 on the year and 5-1 in their last six games at Raymond James Stadium.

ADAMS’ GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 34, Broncos 13
ADAMS’ SEASON RECORD: 1-1

Josh Queipo: Bucs Best The Broncos

The Broncos are rudderless and adrift while the Bucs are ascending due to a young and talented roster. Denver’s starting quarterback Bo Nix has shown he is not ready for the NFL game and head coach Sean Payton appears as if he has no interest in simplifying things for him. If the Broncos have any hope of scoring enough to win they will have to run the ball effectively. The problem is their run game is not good at all.

Nix leads all Denver rushers with 60 yards through two games as Javonte Williams has been ineffective and held to only 40 yards. Rookie running back Audric Estime sprained his ankle in Week 1 and was placed on injured reserve, which is a big blow.

The Bucs’ impressive defense should be able to blitz the Broncos’ offense into submission while the offense will have some similar issues with an underrated Denver front seven that is generating pressure and sacks at one of the highest rates in the NFL. Still, Tampa Bay’s offense has the better quarterback and playmakers to find explosive shots and limit turnovers to easily outpace Payton’s squad.

QUEIPO’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 26, Broncos 10
QUEIPO’S SEASON RECORD: 1-1

Adam Slivon: Bucs Get Better Of Bo Nix, Ride To Convincing Win Over Broncos

The Bucs come back into town 2-0 and fresh off a statement win over the Lions at Ford Field. Next up on the schedule is facing a Broncos team lacking a lot of horsepower. Rookie Bo Nix has struggled mightily through two games, as Pewter Report’s Bailey Adams drove this point home in his weekly preview.

Under center, Nix has looked lost and unable to move the offense down the field. Running backs Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin have not helped matters, averaging just 2.1 and 2.5 yards per carry, respectively. Although Sean Payton has garnered a reputation for being an offensive mastermind, they rank 30th in scoring (13 points per game) and 29th in total offense (263 yards per game). Despite the Bucs’ defense missing Calijah Kancey, Antoine Winfield Jr., and potentially Vita Vea for Sunday’s game, the backups have played capable football and have stood out for their contributions. With many names in the running, expect one member of the secondary to come away with an interception in this one.

On offense, Baker Mayfield has had no problem leading the troops, but they will be battle-tested by Broncos’ defenders Zach Allen and Patrick Surtain II. Allen has 13 pressures in two games, while Surtain remains one of the league’s top cornerbacks. There is less talent on Denver’s defense than in recent years, but these two have a chance to be gamewreckers. Vance Joseph’s unit has blitzed the most in the league, and this will be a big test for the interior offensive line. Mayfield has succeeded in evading pressure and will need to again this week. Liam Coen will likely gameplan around getting Chris Godwin the football, and he has looked as good as ever. There should be more chances to get the run game going, especially as Tampa Bay looks to control the clock.

Overall, the Bucs should be able to dictate how they want to control this game on offense and defensively give Bo Nix plenty of fits having success in the air. I predict a dominant win that gets Tampa Bay to 3-0.

SLIVON’S GAME PREDICTION: Bucs 34, Broncos 17
SLIVON’S SEASON RECORD: 1-1