After a hot start that included an offensive explosion in Week 1 and a statement win in Detroit last Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers played with a hangover against the Denver Broncos and paid the price.
It was a 26-7 bulldozing orchestrated by Sean Payton and executed by a Broncos team that looked completely different than it had the first two weeks. Bo Nix led the worst redzone offense in the league to two early scoring drives to start the game, and the Bucs spent the rest of the afternoon on their back foot.
At every turn, the Bucs looked like they might be able to get something going, but they came up short. A fiery touchdown drive before halftime was followed by a punt to start the second half. Baker Mayfield threw an interception on the second offensive drive of the game, and Cade Otton fumbled away the team’s last chance at mounting a comeback…