The Denver Broncos got the first win of their 2024 NFL season on Sunday.
A 5.5-point underdog, Denver dominated the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from the opening kickoff and never trailed.
The Broncos took the opening kickoff, and immediately drove 70 yards in six plays, finishing the drive with a three-yard touchdown run by rookie quarterback Bo Nix.
Who was this team, and what have they done with our Denver Broncos?
Okay, but that was just the beginning. There was no way that this success would actually last all 60 minutes.
And then...it did.
The Denver defense didn't have that quarter long lapse that we have seen in their first two games. They held the Tampa offense to just 223 total yards, while forcing two turnovers. They sacked Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield seven times.
But we have seen the Denver defense show flashes of being a stout unit this season. The Broncos needed their offense to hold up their end of the deal too.
Maybe it was the offensive line showing improvement. Nix was not sacked all day and was only hit twice.
Or maybe it was the Bronco running backs finding some gaps in the Tampa defense and racking up nearly five yards per carry.
Or it might have been Nix looking like he was beginning to grasp Sean Payton's offense and looking in complete control all day.
Whatever it was, the Denver offense just kept coming up with plays.
Nix completed 25 of 36 passes to nine different receivers and led the offense on six scoring drives.
The Broncos even managed to overcome some adversity.
Leading 17-0 in the second quarter, the Denver offense had driven to the Tampa 40-yard line and were hoping to get at least a field goal. Struggling for extra yardage, running back Javonte Williams put the ball on the ground, and Tampa wasted no time turning the fumble into points. The Bucs went 67 yards in just six plays and tightened to score at 17-7.
If Denver goes three and out on the ensuing drive, this game could turn and turn quickly.
Instead, Nix led the offense on another scoring drive to close the half. Denver covered 50 yards in nine plays and when Will Lutz connected on a 38-yard field goal the Broncos took a 20-7 lead into the halftime locker room.
The second half was more of the same. The defense continued to torment Mayfield, and the offense just kept making plays and moving the chains.
It might not have been the prettiest game, but it was highly effective.
The Broncos won the game 26-7 and the outcome was never really in doubt.
Now, maybe this was just a perfect storm, and the sun happened to shine on this team for one day.
It was simply a banged-up Buccaneers team facing a team from Denver that was desperate for its first win.
Or maybe the Broncos are slowly improving, and this is a sign of things to come.
It might not be sustainable every week just yet, but when this team gets out from under its dead salary cap money and adds a little more talent, we might look back at this win as the beginning of something really fun.
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