The Broncos went into Tampa Bay and meant business they knocked off the 2-0 Bucs 26-7. Here are some things I loved and want to see more of after the first win of the 2024 season!
Bo Nix looked the part
Bo Nix was 25/36 for 216 yards and added 47 yards on the ground, along with a rushing TD. The passing numbers don't look eye-popping, but watching the game, he looked far more comfortable than he did in the first two games. He got rid of the ball very quickly, which played a big part in him not being sacked at all the entire game, and he finally hit on his deep throws! His pocket awareness was very good, and one play I look to was in the 3rd quarter when he had a pass rusher sneak up right behind him on his blind side, and he felt it, avoided it, and took off for 22 yards and a first down. The opening possession of this game set the tone for the rest of the way. On the game's first play, Nix hit Sutton for 22 yards down the left sideline. Then, a few plays later, Nix hit Josh Reynolds down the right sideline for 31 yards. The drive ended with Nix running it in the endzone, and the Broncos never looked back. The Broncos winning the toss and electing to receive on the road was a gutsy move by Sean Payton, but it's safe to say that it paid off in a big way, and hopefully, Nix can build off of this performance.
The Rest of the Offense showed up
A big part of why Nix was very good was that the rest of the guys on offense also made plays. Guys like Sutton, Reynolds, and Tyler Badie made big plays in this game, which took the pressure off of Nix. All Nix had to do was get them the ball, and they did the rest. At this moment, it looks like Badie might be the best option at running back, as he had nine carries for 70 yards. Javonte just does not look right at this moment and has struggled mightily to start the season, as he had just 12 yards on five attempts. The offensive line played their ass off and made sure that Bo was clean and wanted Badie to have some nice runs. If the team can continue to play more complementary football, they can win a few more games that they really shouldn't this year.
Defense!!
This aspect of the team has been overlooked the last couple of weeks because the team has been losing, but this defense has been unbelievable all year, and it was on full display yesterday. They held the Bucs to 223 total yards and forced two turnovers, along with sacking Baker Mayfield 7 times. Pat Surtain, once again, has shown that he is one of the premier corners in this league, shutting down Mike Evans and holding him to just 17 yards on two catches. Vance Joseph has done a masterful job with a defense that doesn't have many big names, but he is still getting the best of them, and that's a sign of great coaching. He has been slandered in his return to Denver, and rightfully so, as giving up 70 points is pretty bad, but he has turned it around ever since, and he deserves a lot of credit.
Can the team keep this momentum going next week in New York vs Aaron Rodgers and the Jets?
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