Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-US PRESSWIRE

The Buccaneers lost a heartbreaker last week against the Falcons, and we will see just exactly what kind of team we have when they take on a fierce but beatable Broncos team Sunday. Good teams bounce back, and we’re all under the assumption that’s what we have in Tampa, but it’s going to take some convincing before people blindly buy into what’s happening.

That can happen on Sunday with a win against a Peyton Manning-led Broncos team that is trying to win the AFC West this week. With a win against the Bucs, Denver can win the AFC West and make it to 10 wins on the season. The Bucs aren’t quite to 10 wins yet but a win gives them seven with four left and the very real possibility of finishing Greg Schiano’s first season 11-5 at best.

Speaking of clinching the division, the Atlanta Falcons haven’t won the NFC South yet and they’re counting on a Buccaneers loss today to get them that title. If the Bucs lose, the Falcons win the NFC South but with a win the Buccaneers can make the Falcons wait for that title if only for just another week.

We will have live updates from Denver down below, so be sure to check in and get in the conversation as the Bucs take on the Broncos. What matchup are you looking forward too, will Peyton Manning shred the Bucs secondary and can Tampa Bay win this game?

Buccaneers at Broncos — 4:05pm ET on FOX

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-5) at Denver Broncos (9-3)

Last week’s loss against the Falcons was a heartbreaker, there’s really no other way to put it. But we’ve been talking about this shift in culture all year long in Tampa, and it’s games like the one today against Denver that will truly prove if this team is growing, or at the very least how fast it’s growing.

Good teams bounce back, they show fight in games even if they’ve lost the previous one. That’s what the Bucs need to do against the Broncos, they must show fight and a will to win and thusly bounce back from a gut wrenching loss.

It won’t be easy, as the Broncos are not as good as the Falcons but far better than most of the teams Tampa has played this year. Peyton Manning is the x-factor as he usually is and he usually owns the Bucs. From the miraculous comeback win on Monday Night Football almost a decade ago, to the other meetings since then, Manning has shown no fear when facing a Bucs defense.

And that’s back when there was a secondary present.

The key to winning is putting pressure on Manning. Denver’s run game is mysterious in that no one knows who’s running the ball. Willis McGahee is out, Knowshon Moreno is out and Denver is in a situation not unlike the one the Bucs found themselves in last year when they literally ran out of backs.

Besides, Tampa boasts the best run defense in the NFL allowing just over 81 yards per game on the ground, so the Broncos are virtually one-dimensional. But that one dimension has Peyton Manning which makes it a pretty damn good dimension. Juxtapose that against the Bucs 32nd ranked pass defense and you’re starting to see this is going to be a topsy turvy game.

But again, it’s one that the Bucs can very much win. It all comes down to the offense: can they score enough points so that the secondary can make it’s usual number of mistakes and still win the game?

If history has shown us anything, the Bucs will need at least 30 points to win, and against Manning that might not be enough.

Location: Sports Authority Field at Mile High

Time: 4:05pmET/3:05CT

Nat’l TV: N/A

Bucs TV: FOX

Away TV: FOX

Announcers: Dick Stockton/John Lynch

Live Stream: NFL Live Stream

Radio: WDAE 620AM (Tampa), KOA 850AM (Denver)

Satellite Radio: Sirius 829 (Bucs Feed), Sirius 809 (Broncos Feed)

Weather: 61°F, Sunny

Line: Broncos -7.0

Last Week: Buccaneers lost to Falcons 24-23, Broncos beat Chiefs 17-9

Last Meeting: October 5, 2008 – Buccaneers 13, Broncos 16

Series History (Since 2001): Broncos lead series 2-0

Key Bucs Storyline: Can the Bucs bounce back as a unit after a heartbreaking loss?

Opposing View: Will the Broncos clinch a playoff spot this week with a win?

Prediction: Bucs 24, Broncos 31

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