Broncos vs Buccaneers Week 3: Three keys to victory

How the Denver Broncos can get their first win on the season at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Denver Broncos have not gotten off to the best of starts this season and both games they have failed to achieve the most basic of goals that a coach could set out for a team. Now, of course, this falls on the staff and the players alike, but it’s the truth.

This week we’ll keep the keys to victory basic, as it’ll be a great thing to accomplish if Denver can handle the basics this week against a formidable Tampa Bay Buccaneers team.

1. Run the dang ball

If you’ve seen the keys to victory from the first two weeks then you should have known that this was going to be key number one. The Broncos rushing attack has been horrible. Bo Nix is the first quarterback to lead his team in rushing yards in his first two career games since the 1950’s.

If you saw the offensive line film breakdown of last week’s game, then you would know that their issues mostly boil down to being too predictable, the offensive line not picking up rushers, or Javonte Williams missing his reads. If Denver wants a chance at winning this game then they’ll likely have to rush for, at minimum, 100 yards.

2. Catch the dang ball

Two things that can really help a rookie quarterback is a dependable rushing attack to keep the defense honest and receivers that can catch the ball. So far the Broncos have had issues with both of those.

According to Pro Football Reference, the Broncos only have four drops on the year. But if you’ve watched both games it definitely feels like there’s been a lot more. Maybe they haven’t been drops, technically, but there have been plenty of catchable balls that the receivers have not been able to come down with.

I am not expecting a rookie quarterback to have perfect accuracy so Denver needs to help out their potential franchise player.

3. Shut down Chris Godwin

So far, most of Tampa Bay’s offensive success has come through the air as five of their six touchdowns have been scored off of a pass. Godwin has two of the five passing touchdowns and leads the team in targets, receptions, and receiving yards through the first two games.

If Surtain II is able to handle him one-on-one like he was with D.K. Metcalf, then that’ll allow for Riley Moss to get some help covering Mike Evans (or they’ll have Surtain II on Evans and double Godwin). I like the way the Denver rushing defense has looked at times this season, especially with Zach Allen being in the opponent’s backfield seemingly every play. It hasn’t helped them that they’re on the field 70% of the game, and eventually a team will wear them down, but if the Broncos can achieve the first two goals, then this should all come together.