Introduction: Nix ran for a TD,

AMPA, Fla. Bo Nix’s first NFL
touchdown is yet to come. For
now, he and the Denver

Broncos are happy to celebrate
the rookie quarterback’s
first professional victory.

After the Broncos (1-2) beat the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7
on Sunday, the No. 12 pick in

this year’s draft bounced back
from two early season losses.
“It was good. We played well,

” Nix said. “We performed at a
high level and that’s what you
want to feel when you go back
to the dressing room.”

The guys were very excited. This is the amount you spent in a week. You put so much effort, time and energy into it and these moments are about that.

Will Lutz returned punts of 43, 38, 33 and 43 yards for Denver, which is 3-0 for the second straight season under coach Sean Payton.

Nix completed 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards with no interceptions after throwing four times in his team’s first two games.

“I mean, I mean, it’s very important — and that includes myself and the offensive coaching staff,” Payton said. “Our job is to paint the right picture for this player. “If we do this…if we do this, this guy will be special.

Denver’s defensive line also played a supporting role for the Knicks, sacking Baker Mayfield seven times and intercepting the Bucks once to set up a touchdown in the first quarter.

The Broncos also stole two Tampa Bay possessions in Denver territory in the fourth quarter, stopping one drive on downs and forcing a fumble on another.

The Bucs (2-1), the three-time defending NFC South champions,

The Bucs (2-1), the three-time defending NFC South champions, were looking to start the season with their first three-game winning streak since 2005 but were held to 223 yards of total offense. The loss was particularly disappointing for them since they had beaten Detroit on the road the week before.

Mayfield completed 25 of 33 passes for 163 yards in the second quarter, including a 6-yard scoring throw to Chris Godwin. Rookie Bucky Irving scored touchdowns on runs of 32 and 13 yards.

“There are a few things we need to go over on tape and fix,” Mayfield said.

“It’s a good lesson for our entire team,” Mayfield added. “If you don’t prepare every week like you’re playing in a playoff game, this can happen.” How accurate should it be? “

In the first two games, the Broncos had just two touchdowns, two field goals, 11 punts, three interceptions and two turnovers on the Knicks’ 20 drives, not counting the end of the first half. On Sunday the rookie got off to a much better start. He completed the first three plays for 22, 6 and 31 yards and led Denver down the field after kickoff.