The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost 26-7 to the Denver Broncos as the home team made more and more mistakes. The Bucs could not sustain drives offensively, converting three of eleven third-down attempts. Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times and the Tampa Bay defense had trouble getting off the field.

On the Broncos’ first scrimmage play, Courtland Sutton gained 22 yards in hurry-up mode and two plays later Josh Reynolds went 31 yards down the right sideline with a back-shoulder grab. He worked over the top of the Bucs defense for a chunk play to the Tampa Bay 11-yard line. Quarterback Bo Nix capped the six-play, 70-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown scramble around the right edge. The Bucs’ offense followed with a quick three-and-out after a two-yard gain by Rachaad White on third-and-ten.

On the next drive, the Bucs defense forced a quick punt. Jordan Whitehead forced Jaleel McLaughlin out of bounds on a screen. He diagnosed and went to the spot, limiting McLaughlin’s YAC opportunity. Nix threw an incompletion on third down, forcing a punt.

The Bucs’ next drive was halted by a Broncos takeaway. Brandon Jones intercepted Mayfield and returned him 36 yards to the nine-yard line. The Bucs defense was on third-and-goal from the one, stopping Javonte Williams. Denver contested the call, but the play was upheld. The Broncos were able to capitalize on fourth down with a one-yard Jaleel McLaughlin run around the right sideline, giving the Broncos a 14-0 lead. Tampa Bay’s offense was stalled on a quick three-and-out when Riley Moss forced an incomplete pass to Trey Palmer on third down.

The Broncos’ ensuing 13-play, 41-yard drive ended with a 43-yard field goal by Will Lutz when Tykee Smith and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka stopped Troy Franklin in front of the sticks. A third-down illegal block above the waist by Powers set up third-and-20 for Denver.

The Bucs gave it away on downs on the next drive after Mayfield’s pass to Godwin on fourth-and-two was incomplete. The tide turned on the Broncos’ next drive when the Bucs made their first takeaway of the day. Lavonte David forced a fumble and Logan Hall recovered. Bucky Irving then followed by reaching the open field after the cut for a 32-yard gain. Irving pushed the Bucs to first-and-goal on the one with a 13-yard gain.

Mayfield faked a handoff to White and Irving flowed around the other end, putting the Bucs in an advantageous field position. The Bucs were able to capitalize on a Godwin score before halftime. Before the snap of second-and-six, Godwin lined up wide on the left side of the formation. He used a quick stutter-step and worked his way out to get enough leverage to twist his body and secure the catch on a six-yard score. The Bucs cut their deficit, 17-7, on the six-play, 67-yard drive. To end the first half, the Broncos came away with three. Chris Braswell applied relentless pressure on third down, forcing Denver to settle for a Lutz 38-yard field goal.

After halftime, despite gains of 13 yards by both Cade Otton and Chris Godwin, a sack of Mayfield by John Franklin-Myers for a loss of seven yards and a subsequent incompletion and no gain by White on a screen, the Bucs were forced to punt. The Broncos offense then failed on a three-and-out with a near interception by Tykee Smith on third down. The Bucs managed to cross midfield on the next drive on a pair of Irving plays, but a sack of Mayfield on second down (-8) and an incompletion to Godwin on third down forced another punt in Raymond James Stadium for the home team.

On the Broncos’ next possession, Bo Nix ran to the Tampa Bay 31-yard line, missing several tackles for a gain of 22 yards. Two Bucs defensive offside penalties late in the third quarter set up a third-and-four for Denver. The drive culminated in a Lutz 33-yard field goal that made it 23–7. The Bucs’ offense followed with a turnover on downs following a second-down sack by Mayfield and another takedown by the Broncos defense on fourth down as Mayfield attempted to evade pressure.

Tampa Bay’s defense then held the Broncos to three after Tyler Badie brought Denver to the Tampa Bay 32-yard line with a 43-yard gain up the middle. Lutz drilled a 43-yarder, extending their lead to 26-7. Just before the two-minute warning, a disastrous series occurred for the Bucs. Mayfield was sacked on second down, and on third down, a Cade Otton fumble was recovered by Denver’s Brandon Jones. Moss knocked the ball out, and Jones returned it 34 yards to the Broncos’ 47-yard line.