TAMPA, Fla. – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to quarterback Baker Mayfield, had a really good week of practice. Well practice is supposed to make perfect and the Bucs were far from that getting totally dominated by the Denver Broncos 26-7.
“I thought we prepared well,” Mayfield said. “We’ll learn our lesson and go from here.”
Denver went right down the field in their first drive, going 70 yards in six plays, capped off by a Bo Nix 2-yard TD run to take a 7-0 lead. Denver’s Brandon Jones picked off Baker Mayfield, leading to a 1-yard TD run by Jaleel McLaughlin, and Denver went up by two touchdowns. Will Lutz added a 43-yard field goal to take a 17-0 lead.
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“They outplayed us,” Bucs head coach Todd Bowles said. “They outcoached us. They outhit us, and they won the game.”
The Bucs finally got on the board before the half. A nice 67-yard drive capped off by a Mayfield-to-Christopher Godwin touchdown closed the gap to ten points. After a Broncos field goal, Denver took a 20-7 halftime lead. The Bucs were never able to get back into it.
“All the credit in the world to Denver for coming in here,” Mayfield said. “I think we’ll watch this tape how much they wanted it more than us.”
Broncos head coach Sean Payton is very familiar with coaching against the Bucs, having been the head coach of the New Orleans Saints before coming to Raymond James Stadium.
“It’s a good win, Payton said. “A good road win against a good team. This is a kind of unique stadium. Historically, there have been a lot of great events here. I’m talking about the postseason or what have you, but it’s always nice.”
The Bucs host the Eagles on Sunday at 1 pm.
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