When the Denver Broncos (0-2) meet the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season, the Bucs, fresh off a big road win over the Detroit Lions, will be the heavy favorites. The Broncos come into the game having looked like a pretty bad football team through the first two weeks of the season.
Historically, the Broncos have always had the upper hand in this matchup. The two teams have met 10 times in the regular season, and while the Bucs won the most recent matchup between the two teams, the Broncos have won seven of those games.
“They gave it to force Baker Mayfield to make mistakes”@BamBamDavis51 explains how the Broncos managed to pull off an upset and beat the Buccaneers this weekend.
It might be more likely than you think
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— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) September 19, 2024
Denver is 7-3 against Tampa Bay and the only time they lost in Tampa was in September 1999. That year, the Broncos were the two-time defending Super Bowl champions but had to adjust to life after John Elway and lost to the Bucs 13-10.
Broncos lose only once to Tampa Bay
September 26, 1999
Buccaneers 13, Broncos 10
Tampa was on its way to becoming one of the best teams in the NFL at the time and could be in the same situation today. That day, the Bucs slowed down the Broncos’ offense and Mike Alstott ran for 131 yards and a touchdown to send the Broncos to 0-3, something they have a chance to do again this year.
Most recent meeting
September 27, 2020
Buccaneers 28, Broncos 10
That was the year Tom Brady joined the Bucs and they came to Denver and throttled the Broncos that day on their way to winning the Super Bowl that year.
Brady threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns on the day. Meanwhile, Broncos quarterbacks Brett Rypien and Jeff Driskel were tackled six times on the day in a game Broncos fans would like to forget.
Prior to the win, the Buccaneers had lost four straight games to Denver, dating back to 2004.
This is an interconference game that only happens once every four years. The Broncos will need to return to their former success against this team (and winning 3 of 4 all-time games in Tampa) to get this season back on track.
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