Denver’s defense
finally shows up in 16-13 win over Tampa
Brian Griese has one more bad memory of Denver to digest.
Tampa Bay’s quarterback was knocked out of the game with a swollen right elbow
on a blind-side blitz in the third quarter Sunday, and he watched helplessly as
Jay Cutler guided a patient Denver offense to a 16-13 win over the Buccaneers.
Cutler, who piled up nearly 1,300 yards passing in winning the AFC’s Offensive
Player of the Month award in September, threw for a season-low 227 yards with a
workmanlike 23-for-37 performance as he worked almost strictly the underneath
routes to avoid Tampa Bay’s dominant downfield defenders.
“It’s really not my thing. We’re used to throwing the ball down the field,
getting big chunks and really couldn’t do it against this defense,” said Cutler,
who has led Denver to a 4-1 start...
Jay Cutler passed to Brandon Stokley to the right for 10
yard gain (Matt Prater made PAT)
6 - 13
4th Quarter
12:24
DEN
FG
Matt Prater kicked a 27-yard field goal
6 - 16
2:02
TB
TD
Jeff Garcia passed to Ike Hilliard to the left for 7
yard gain (Matt Bryant made PAT)
13 - 16
Team Statistics
TB
DEN
First Downs
17
17
Passing
11
13
Rushing
6
4
Penalty
0
0
Third Down Efficiency
6-15
6-15
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-0
TOTAL NET YARDS
307
333
Total Plays
61
60
Average Gain Per Play
5.0
5.6
NET YARDS RUSHING
139
106
Rushes
22
26
Average Per Rush
6.3
4.1
NET YARDS PASSING
168
227
Completions-Attempts
26-36
23-34
Yards Per Pass Play
4.3
6.7
Times Sacked
3
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
13
0
Had Intercepted
1
0
PUNTS
7
5
Average Punt
49.9
49.6
PENALTIES
5
6
Penalty Yards
30
55
FUMBLES
0
1
Fumbles Lost
0
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
30:47
29:13
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
The Denver Broncos' offense
carried the team to wins in its first three games, but wasn't enough to overcome
an ugly defensive effort last week. The Broncos will try to bounce back against
a team coming off its best defensive performance of the season.
The Broncos hope to find some answers defensively as they host the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers on Sunday in a matchup of teams trying to maintain their spots on top
of their respective divisions.
Denver (3-1) gave up 28.0 points and 421.7 yards per game in its first three
contests, but averaged 38.0 points and 432.0 yards to go undefeated in that
stretch. The Broncos, though, couldn't extend that streak last Sunday, when
their offense totaled 446 yards but failed to bail out the defense in a 33-19
road loss to lowly Kansas City....more
Inside the Game Plans:
Notable:
BUCCANEERS:
The Bucs can look at the stats, too. They know that Denver is ranked
30th in the league against the run and is coming off a game where Chiefs
running back Larry Johnson went crazy on them. Tampa Bay likes to run
the football with Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn. They have contrasting
styles and are both effective. But the Bucs haven't run the football
very well early in games, especially on the road...FULL
STORY
BRONCOS:
Tampa Bay has shown it will run the ball or pass the ball, and the
Broncos have had issues stopping both. That means the Buccaneers have
plenty of options for how to attack Denver's defense. The Broncos have
had problems with shifty running backs in space, so Tampa Bay's Warrick
Dunn could be a factor this week. Offensively, the Broncos will have to
be patient against Tampa Bay's zone defense...FULL
STORY
Broncos lead the NFL in
total offense (435.5 yards per game), and have surrendered a
league-low-tying two sacks (Tennessee)
Denver has put up 1,742 total yards in its
first four games of 2008, most in the NFL and most in Broncos' franchise
history through the first four games of any season
Buccaneers wide receiver Joey Galloway
(hamstring) regarded as questionable after missing the last two games.
Broncos defensive tackle Dewayne
Robertson (knee) and wide receiver Darrell Jackson (calf) are
questionable
20.0
6.6