The Denver Broncos go back on the road this week, putting their undefeated record on the line against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
After starting off the season with two home wins against the Carolina Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts, the Broncos played their first road game of the season last week, knocking off the Cincinnati Bengals 29-17.
Meanwhile, the Buccaneers are 1-2. After starting the season strong with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons in their season opener, they’ve dropped two games in a row to the Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams.
A talented young team that is hoping to earn a playoff berth, the Bucs will present some unique challenges to a Bronco team that has its sights set on more than just making the postseason.
Can Denver keep their perfect record with a win in West Florida?
In their illustrious history, the Broncos have started 4-0 eight different times. Six of those times they have made it all the way to the Super Bowl. I like those odds.
Here are five keys to making it to 4-0 on Sunday.
If you look at this game on paper, it might look like a blowout in favor of the road team. The Broncos are the defending Super Bowl champions and look like they might contend again this year. The Buccaneers, conversely, are a young team still trying come into their own.
But these games aren’t played on paper, and if Denver goes to Florida thinking that the bus driver will be named the MVP for simply getting them to the stadium, it could be a long day.
Denver must prepare to play excellent football, and they can’t worry about the opponent that lines up across from them.
We all know that on a given Sunday, any NFL team can beat another. The Broncos have to bring their A game on Sunday if they want to avoid such an upset.
2. Don’t turn it over
If you want to give a young team hope that they can somehow pull the upset, go ahead and turn the ball over a few times.
We all remember the 2015 regular season finale against the San Diego Chargers last year.
Denver was looking to wrap up home-field advantage, and get ready for the playoffs. The Chargers were looking to set up tee times, and put a 4-12 season behind them. Instead, the Broncos turned it over five times, and gave the Chargers hope.
In the second half, backup quarterback Brock Osweiler would be benched in favor of Peyton Manning, and the rest, of course, is history.
But if Denver would like to put away the Buccaneers on Sunday, they can’t give them any gifts.
3. Ground and pound
In their first two games, the Denver rushing game was looking like the Broncos of old. They compiled nearly 300 yards on the ground, averaging nearly five yards per attempt.
That all came to a halt last week in Cincinnati.
Denver runners were held to just 52 yards on 23 carries, and it won’t be easy to get back on track Sunday.
The Buccaneers defense is a work in progress, but they are getting better at stopping the run. So far this season, Tampa is allowing just 98 yards per game on 3.5 yards per carry.
If the Broncos can generate some rushing yardage, though, they should be able to generate some points. Tampa is the lowest rated defense in points allowed, giving up 33.7 per game.
4. Get the defense off the field
If there is a weakness to this Denver Broncos defense so far in 2016, it has been their ability to get off the field on third downs.
The Orange Crush is currently allowing opponents to convert nearly 49 percent of their third down conversions. And with a dangerous young quarterback like Jameis Winston, the Broncos must be sure to not allow him to extend drives.
Winston and the Bucs offense have shown an ability to convert third downs (42.1 percent), and to score points (23.3 points per game).
The Denver defense needs to slow them down on both fronts this Sunday.
When they get the Tampa offense in third down situations, they need to force a punt.
5. Force Jameis Winston into mistakes
As talented as Jameis Winston may be, he is a young quarterback that is more than capable of making some big mistakes.
As we all know, the Denver pass rush is going to look to put big pressure on Winston. Just like they do every week.
Through the first three games they already have 12 quarterback sacks, and maybe more importantly, they have already registered 25 hits on opposing quarterbacks.
So far in 2016, Winston has been in a very generous mood. In just three games, he has thrown six interceptions and fumbled twice.
If the Broncos can get to Winston, and get him hearing footsteps, he just might give them a few easy turnovers that could swing the game.