The Buccaneers Laid A Giant Egg At Home In The Ultimate Letdown Spot
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were coming off one of the guttiest wins in years in a road victory in Detroit despite missing several key starters. They didn't get too much healthier in the past week with key starters RT Luke Goedeke, S Antoine Winfield, DT Vita Vea, and DT Calijah Kancey all OUT for today's home game against the 0-2 Denver Broncos starting a rookie QB in Bo Nix.
Right out of the gate, it was bad. Nix drove them down the field and took them into the end zone before the good people at Raymond James Stadium could find the way back to their seats from getting a gametime beverage.
It didn't get better on this backbreaking 4th down to make it 14-0.
There was a moment of hope as the Bucs cut it to 17-7 with under two minutes left in the half, but then gave up three easy pass plays in a row as the Broncos easily marched the ball down the field and got three more points before the half. The Bucs never recovered and fell 26-7. A disgusting effort that showed warts for the offense which exposing some issues like playing way too far off for the CBs, being unable to stop the zone read (seven days before they play Jalen Hurts), and having issues protecting the Quarterback (although hopefully that's helped greatly with Goedeke returning soon).
It was a horrible game, but with the Saints falling too, the Bucs are still in a tie for 1st place in the NFC South so we live to fight another day.