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 victory over the Detroit Lions, are a big favorite. The Broncos enter the game having looked like a pretty bad football team in the first two weeks of the season.
Historically, this is a matchup the Broncos have gotten the better of. The two teams have battled 10 times in the regular season and though the Bucs won the most recent game between the two, the Broncos have won seven of those games.
"They gave to force Baker Mayfield to make mistakes"@BamBamDavis51 explains how the Broncos pull off the upset and beat the Buccaneers this weekend.
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) September 19, 2024
It might be more likely than you think👀 pic.twitter.com/q5irmSRWdZ
Denver holds a 7-3 all-time record against Tampa Bay and the only time they have ever lost in Tampa came back 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 fell to the Bucs 13-10.
Broncos only loss in 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 this time and could be in a similar spot today. On this day, the Bucs slowed the Broncos' offense and Mike Alstott rushed 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
This was the year that Tom Brady joined the Bucs and they came into Denver and throttled the Broncos on this 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 sacked six times on the day in a game Broncos fans would like to forget.
Prior to that win, the Buccaneers had lost four in a row against Denver, dating back to 2004.
It's an inter-conference matchup that happens just once every four years. The Broncos will need to turn back to their old success against this team (and winning 3 of 4 games all-time in Tampa), to get this season back on track.
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