Bucs seek to add to another strong start, take on Broncos

There are four undefeated teams in the NFC heading into Week 3 of the season and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand out in the exclusive group.

Of the seven NFC playoff teams from last season, the Buccaneers are the only one to open 2-0 this season and will try to remain perfect when they play host to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

The Buccaneers earned a 20-16 road victory last weekend against the Detroit Lions, turning in just enough defense, and opportunistic offense behind quarterback Baker Mayfield, into a 2-0 record for the fourth consecutive season.

“We’re not out to prove everybody wrong, we’re out to prove ourselves right,” Buccaneers head coach Todd Bowles said. “We’re hungry, we’re trying to get to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. The same people that are patting us on the back are the same people that were talking about us and expecting us to win none.”

The common denominator in those previous 2-0 starts is that none of them turned into a third consecutive victory, including a 25-11 home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles during Week 3 last season. The last time Tampa Bay went 3-0 was in 2005.

The Buccaneers exacted a measure of revenge with their win Sunday over the Lions, who eliminated Tampa Bay in last year’s NFC Divisional round of the playoffs.

“We know it’s a long season,” Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum said. “We went 2-0 last year and you all saw what happened. So the leadership on this team has been keeping us together and keeping us grinding, staying humble and focusing on the Broncos.”

Humility is key, especially since Tampa Bay has the 28th-ranked defense in total yards allowed at 381 per game. They have offset that by allowing 18.0 points per game, tied for sixth best in the league.

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix will try to expose a Buccaneers defense that is 29th overall in passing defense with 242.5 yards allowed per game.

Denver (0-2) gave up just 13 points to the Pittsburgh Steelers last week on 117 passing yards, but scored on just a pair of fourth-quarter field goals from Will Lutz.

Nix had 246 yards passing last week but threw two interceptions and now has four in two games, with no touchdowns. One of those interceptions came in the end zone in the third quarter after Denver had advanced to the Pittsburgh 6-yard line.

The empty drive was otherwise one to remember, with Nix connecting on passes of 26 and 49 yards. Wide receiver Josh Reynolds caught the 49-yarder on a trick play and has nine receptions for 138 of Nix’s 384 total yards.

“(I’m) pleased with what he’s doing,” Nix said of Reynolds. “He played really well down the stretch. He (made) catches and (found) zones in the defense and got us some key conversions.”

Denver is 29th in total offense at 263 yards per game and is one of 10 teams averaging fewer than 100 yards rushing per game. The Buccaneers also are on that list.

The Broncos will lean into a defense that is ninth in the NFL with 277.5 yards allowed per game. After Denver plays at Tampa Bay, it will stay on the road and head to West Virginia to prepare for the New York Jets in Week 4.

“It’s not a make-or-break, but we’re going to have a better idea of where this team is going to be after these next two weeks going on the road,” Denver head coach Sean Payton said. “… Sometimes that can work as a positive relative to your team being together the whole time.”

Broncos right tackle Mike McGlinchey (knee) went on injured reserve Wednesday, while injuries have impacted the defense. Linebacker Baron Browning (foot) and safety JL Skinner (ankle) were ruled out on Friday after not practicing all week. Defensive end John Franklin-Myers (concussion) and safety Brandon Jones (foot) returned to full practice on Friday and will play.

For the Buccaneers, star safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (foot), defensive tackle Calijah Kancey (calf) and tackle Luke Goedeke (concussion) did not practice all week and are out for Week 3. Nose tackle Vita Vea (knee) and wide receiver Kameron Johnson (ankle) are listed as doubtful, while defensive lineman William Gholston (knee) and defensive back Josh Hayes (ankle) are questionable, though Hayes had a full practice on Friday.

–Field Level Media

Top scoring defenses clash as Chargers oppose Steelers

Points will likely come at a premium when the Pittsburgh Steelers welcome the visiting Los Angeles Chargers to town on Sunday afternoon.

Opponents have yet to figure out how to break through against either team, with Los Angeles (2-0) allowing the fewest points per game in the NFL (6.5) through the first two weeks of the season. Pittsburgh ranks second in that category, yielding an average of 8.0 points.

“Outstanding,” Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh said of the Steelers’ defense. “One of the best front sevens in football, and elite in the coverage area as well.”

Cutting through Pittsburgh’s secondary could be that much tougher for the Chargers if quarterback Justin Herbert isn’t able to play. Herbert told reporters Friday that he sustained a high-ankle sprain in last weekend’s victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Herbert is listed as questionable and said he was unsure if he will play Sunday. If he can’t suit up, Easton Stick would start under center.

And Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin is keeping a close eye on Los Angeles’ injury report.

“I don’t speculate and read stuff on Tuesday, it’s a waste of time,” Tomlin said. “Participation, or lack thereof, is what gets my attention.”

Tomlin is more focused on his own quarterback room. Justin Fields was the Steelers’ field general for Weeks 1 and 2, and Pittsburgh (2-0) is preparing to start him once again on Sunday as Russell Wilson continues to work through a calf issue.

Wilson was a limited participant in Friday’s practice and is listed as questionable.

Fields most recently completed 13 of 20 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown in the Steelers’ 13-6 victory over the Denver Broncos last Sunday.

“He loves to compete,” Tomlin said of Fields. “He’s got a quiet confidence about him. He doesn’t change in environments. There’s a clarity in his communication, in his response to communication, that’s really comfortable.”

If Tomlin’s words ring true, Fields should be able to stay composed in front of a raucous crowd that is expected to be on hand for Pittsburgh’s home opener.

The Chargers fared well in a hostile environment last Sunday, crushing the Carolina Panthers 26-3 in Charlotte. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 131 yards and a score on 17 carries, while Herbert went for 130 yards, two TDs and a pick on 14-of-20 passing.

A lot of the success in the running game can be attributed to Los Angeles offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who frequently went up against the Steelers during his two stints on the Baltimore Ravens’ coaching staff (2006-07 and 2017-22).

“Greg Roman’s gone against the Steelers, Steelers have gone against Greg Roman,” Harbaugh said. “There’s experience on both sides.”

Roman’s offense could be without wide receiver Joshua Palmer (elbow/calf) for the meeting with Pittsburgh, as Palmer didn’t practice all week and is questionable. Linebackers Junior Colson (hamstring) is out and Bud Dupree (illness), a former Steeler, is questionable. Star linebacker Joey Bosa (hip) returned to full practice on Friday.

Pittsburgh guard Isaac Seumalo (pectoral) and tight end MyCole Pruitt (knee) didn’t practice all week and were ruled out of Week 3 on Friday. Offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (knee) is questionable.

–Field Level Media

Surprising Saints hunting 3-0 start vs. Eagles

Arguably no team has been a bigger surprise during the first two weeks of the NFL season than the New Orleans Saints.

The Saints (2-0) are one of nine undefeated teams as they prepare to host the Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) on Sunday afternoon.

Expectations for New Orleans (9-8 last season), which has missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons, were average at best before the current campaign started.

The Saints have defied the doubters so far with a 47-10 home win over the Carolina Panthers and a 44-19 road rout of the Dallas Cowboys.

“I think everybody took offense to how we were viewed, on the outside and in our own city,” New Orleans third-year head coach Dennis Allen said. “And rightfully so. We haven’t performed the way that I think we’re capable of and so it was really incumbent on us to make some changes and play better and that’s what we’re in the process of doing.”

Saints quarterback Derek Carr and the offense have thrived under first-year coordinator Klint Kubiak. New Orleans leads the NFL in scoring with 91 points, 22 more than the next closest team, the Arizona Cardinals.

Carr paces the league in passer rating (142.4) and running back Alvin Kamara is tops in scoring (five touchdowns) and yards from scrimmage (290).

The Saints’ defense has more than held its own, ranking fourth in scoring (14.5 points allowed per game), tied for fourth in yards allowed per play (4.5) and seventh in total yards allowed (273 per game).

“The focus for us is let’s not start patting ourselves on the back,” Allen said. “The focus for us is how are we going to improve because this is a long season and we’re only two games into it.”

While Allen is trying to prevent his players from feeling overconfident after just two games, Eagles coach Nick Sirianni is trying to keep his team from dwelling on a lost opportunity in its last contest against the visiting Atlanta Falcons.

Philadelphia had a chance to take a two-score lead with less than two minutes remaining, but running back Saquon Barkley dropped a third-down pass. The Eagles settled for a field goal and a six-point lead, and Atlanta needed just 65 seconds to score the winning touchdown in a 22-21 victory.

“My whole thing is, OK, we’ve got some adversity right now, but let’s have the right mindset and work hard and prepare the right way,” Sirianni said. “Have a positive mindset and know you’re going to get better from the things that you went through.

“What is in the past is in the past, and we can’t change that, but you can control your daily habits and the way you approach your process and put yourself in position to win the next game.”

The dropped pass marred what has otherwise been a strong start to Barkley’s first season in Philadelphia. The former New York Giant is seventh in yards from scrimmage (248) and has scored three touchdowns.

This will be the Eagles’ first Sunday game of the young season. They held off the Green Bay Packers, 34-29, on Sept. 6 in San Paolo, Brazil, then played their home opener on Monday night.

Philadelphia wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is out for the second consecutive game. Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson is questionable to play at New Orleans for the first time since the Saints traded him to Philadelphia in 2022.

New Orleans tight end Taysom Hill (chest) returned to practice and is expected to play. He’s listed as questionable.

–Field Level Media