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Week 3 Preview: Denver Broncos vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

By Shelby Manning

TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 2: Linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos sacks Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. Denver defeated Tampa Bay 27 to 7. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 2: Linebacker Todd Davis #51 of the Denver Broncos sacks Quarterback Jameis Winston #3 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the game at Raymond James Stadium on October 2, 2016 in Tampa, Florida. Denver defeated Tampa Bay 27 to 7. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 14: Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos signals that the ball was stopped short of the line to gain during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – SEPTEMBER 14: Bradley Chubb #55 of the Denver Broncos signals that the ball was stopped short of the line to gain during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Empower Field at Mile High on September 14, 2020 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Key Matchups

Bradley Chubb vs. Tom Brady

Unfortunately, we won’t be treated to another classic Tom Brady versus Von Miller game in 2020, and it feels as if we may have seen our last. However, Von Miller’s absence provides great opportunity for Brady to get acquainted with the young man that Miller is mentoring to mold into the next version of him–Bradley Chubb.

After missing most of the 2019 season with a knee injury, Chubb has had to ease slowly back in for the 2020 season, and realistically, the last thing the Broncos need is another injury to a star player, so perhaps it is best that Chubb not go full speed.

Nonetheless, the Broncos have struggled in getting to the QB so far through two weeks and will need to get to Brady on Sunday. This will mean that Chubb will need to get more involved, and against Brady would be a perfect way for the young Chubb to reintroduce himself to the NFL.

Broncos’ D-Line versus Leonard Fournette

I don’t think many have forgotten the disappointing game against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 when the struggling Leonard Fournette put up 225 rush yards against the floundering Denver Broncos’ run defense, 190 of those yards coming up in the second half.

Despite a flurry of key departures in the offseason, the Broncos’ secondary has played solid up to this point, so Tampa Bay should look to establish their ground game early on. The Broncos’ D-Line must remember the embarrassment they felt at the hands of Fournette last season, and retaliate early on.

X-Factors

Shaquil Barrett

If this week’s X-Factor wasn’t as unpredictable as it may have been in the past, my apologies. Yet again, it shouldn’t be.

Former Bronco and well-loved edge rusher Shaquil Barrett returns to the Mile High City for the first time since mutually parting ways with the Broncos in the 2019 offseason, in favor of a destination where he’d have the opportunity to start, something he did not have playing behind  Miller and Chubb in Denver. He then signed with the Bucs.

How did that result for both parties?

Chubb tore his ACL early on in the season. Barrett captured the 2020 NFL sack title, and was then robbed of Defensive Player of the Year accolades.

While it was just freak coincidence that Chubb was injured, Denver still made the right choice, and it should prove to work out well for both parties. Barrett did not leave on bad terms, but best believe that he’ll be coming to town to make a statement to the team who let him walk away.

Between Ndamukong Suh and Barrett, the Broncos’ offensive line better batten down the hatches, because a storm is coming their way.

Melvin Gordon

With an injured Phillip Lindsay and the loss of Courtland Sutton, factored in with another potentially abysmal Broncos’ offensive line, a lot may be riding on the shoulders of Melvin Gordon come Sunday.

It is not far fetched to assume that Driskel is going to get bludgeoned by the pass rush of the Buccaneers and that Denver’s best opportunity to win this game may be to hand the ball off quickly and efficiently.

This is where Gordon may get his opportunity to shine, and prove that the Broncos were right in bringing him in after a rocky start to his 2020 season.

Watch for Gordon to quiet some doubters on Sunday.

The Fans

Broncos Country, are you ready?

It is finally the week where Empower Field will be allowing in a small amount of fans (around 5,700, to be exact). Although this is a far cry from the usual sellout of around 76,000 fans, there’s a reason besides the altitude that makes the Mile High City such a difficult place to play.

Broncos Country is always rockin’ the house.

They are loud.

They are passionate.

And they’ll force you to use a silent count.

Even 5,700 fans could completely make the difference in this game. The Broncos almost always play better in front of their fans, and I think this will be a big difference maker from not having the orange and blue diehards in Week 1.

Come Sunday, the “IN-COM-PLETE” chant is back. And boy, who better to kick off with than Brady himself?

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