After two lifeless weeks of offensive action, the Denver Broncos finally put together a complete performance in all three phases of the game to take down the previously unbeaten Bucs with a 26-7 win on the road in Week 3.
Following that victory, here are Denver’s studs and duds from Sunday.
Stud: QB Bo Nix
Nix pushed the ball downfield from the be very outset, with the first play of the game going to wide receiver Courtland Sutton for a 22-yard gain. Nix showed great pocket awareness, not getting sacked. Nix went 25-of-36 for 216 yards and while he had no touchdown passes, he also took no sacks and threw no interceptions. He added nine rushes for 47 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
Dud: RB Javonte Williams
Broncos running back Javonte Williams has been disappointing for the Broncos running game, and he only had five rushes for 12 yards in Week 3. Williams hasn’t even rushed for 100 yards in three games. He did add four catches for 29 yards, but he also had a fumble.
Stud: Denver's offense
The Broncos’ offense contributed their biggest point output of the young season, at 26 points. The Nix-led unit also produced a masterful eight-minute, 15-play drive in the third quarter, which began on their own six. The Broncos punched back after a Tampa Bay touchdown at the end of the first half with a field goal to make the score 20-7. They never looked back.
Stud: Broncos defense
The defense put the Bucs offense on the run, limiting Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield to 132 passing yards and the Bucs’ offense to 91 rushing yards. Mayfield was also sacked seven times for 31 yards. The Bucs didn’t score a touchdown until late in the first half, and couldn’t get anything going the rest of the way. Mayfield threw one interception and Denver’s defense also forced and recovered a fumble, giving the unit two takeaways on the day.
Stud: OT Alex Palczewski
Filling in for an injured Mike McGlinchey, “Palcho” held up at right tackle as Nix was not sacked once against the Bucs on Sunday. Denver’s offense totaled 352 net yards, their best performance of the season thus far. Palczewski was not a liability up front.
Stud: RB Tyler Badie
As Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin continue to struggle to pick up yards on the ground, Tyler Badie made a huge impact on Sunday with nine carries for 70 yards. Following his impressive performance in Week 3, Baide should be in line for more touches going forward.
Stud: Turnovers/points off turnover
The Broncos took advantage of several Tampa Bay mistakes. Free agent acquisition Brandon Jones intercepted a Mayfield pass, returning it inside the ten, setting up a Denver touchdown four plays later. Second-year cornerback Riley Moss also forced a fumble with less than four minutes left in the game, which was recovered by Jones. The Broncos look to improve on this win going into the Meadowlands next Sunday against the New York Jets.
