It's been a fantastic start to the season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which figures to continue on Sunday.
The Bucs are back home in Tampa to host the struggling Denver Broncos, and have a chance to remain undefeated while also dunking on an old foe in Sean Payton. The Broncos stink, there's no nice way to put it, but they have a rookie quarterback in the infancy of a rebuild so such a thing it to be expected.
What the Bucs can't afford to do is fall into a trap, something that's entirely possible and always dangerous about playing teams like Denver. The Sean Payton element shouldn't be underrated either, as he'd likely love to get his first win of the season against a team he used to punk on an annual basis.
Tampa Bay is a vastly superior team, but the trap door is no doubt present, and a key player won't be there to block the team from falling through it.
Buccaneers likely to be without Luke Goedeke against Broncos in Week 3
Tampa Bay is expected to be without left tackle Luke Goedeke for a second straight week, as he is unlikely to clear concussion protocol in time to play. He missed last Sunday's win over the Lions, but his absence was felt throughout the entire game.
Bucs insider JC Allen delivered the bad news.
Per sources, #Bucs RT Luke Goedeke is unlikely to clear concussion protocol in time for the Week 3 matchup against the Broncos. The team is preparing Justin Skule to be the starter for the second straight week.
— JC Allen (@JCAllenNFL) September 19, 2024
It's a tough blow to an offensive line that struggled mightily without Goedeke. Justin Skule is in line to start again, which is probably good for his confidence considering how he was mauled by Aiden Hutchinson last week.
Skule gave up a whopping five sacks to Hutchinson, and failed to stop pressure from collapsing onto Baker Mayfield all afternoon. It was a rough showing, but he was thrust into a difficult position that even Goedeke might have had a tough time with.
He has a chance for redemption on Sunday.
If the Bucs are going to be missing key players, it's better to have that happen against a team like Denver than a week later when the Philadelphia Eagles come to town. Tampa Bay has a bit of a gauntlet ahead, as the Falcons and Saints await after next Sunday's game against Philly, which then leads to a Monday Night Football showdown with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens.
That's why it's critical for the Bucs to get a win on Sunday and make sure they enter that stretch 3-0. Not having Goedeke isn't ideal, but if having him sit out means he's on track to be availble fortuogher matchups, that's a small price to pay for long term success.
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