Two cheers, two boos after the Broncos’ 26-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday:

CHEERS!

Has anyone seen Bo Nix and Jake Plummer in the same room? The Broncos haven’t fielded a quarterback this slippery since “The Snake” averaged 155 rushing yards per season from 2004-2006. It took Nix only three games to eclipse 100 rushing yards. Once the nation’s top dual-threat recruit as a high school prospect, Nix gave the Buccaneers fits on Sunday. Tampa Bay watched Nix take off for a 22-yard run and elude multiple sack attempts. Nix’s rushing ability is no surprise to folks who watched him for 744 yards across two seasons at Oregon.

BOO!

Boy, the Broncos’ decision to give $245 million to Russell Wilson looks worse and worse every day. Is it too soon to say Wilson is finished as an every-week NFL starter? If the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to win with Justin Fields at quarterback, Wilson will stay on the bench. The Steelers beat up the Chargers 20-10 Sunday. Fields was terrific in completing 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards and two total touchdowns. Wilson watched from the bench as the Steelers improved to 3-0. The big winner in the Wilson trade continues to be the Seahawks, who got all those Broncos draft picks in return.

CHEERS!

Let’s put into perspective how Vance Joseph has transformed the Broncos defense in exactly one calendar year. In Week 3 of the 2023 season, the Broncos allowed 70 points in a historic loss at Miami. In Week 3 of the 2024 season, Joseph’s ‘D’ returned to Florida and turned in this stat line: seven sacks, two forced turnovers, only 223 total yards allowed. Shoot, the Bucs managed only two trips inside the red zone. It was a dominant performance by Joseph and the Broncos defense. Tampa Bay had averaged 28.5 points over two games. Cheers, VJ.

BOO!

Why were the Broncos hiding Tyler Badie from us? All he does is make big plays. Badie caught one pass in 2022 and it went for a 24-yard touchdown. Sunday in Tampa, he recorded the Broncos’ longest run of the season — 43 yards. From Mike Anderson to Olandis Gary, Broncos Country has seen a few unlikely stories emerge at running back. Could the 5-foot-8 Badie be the next one on the list? With Javonte Williams riding the struggle bus, running for 12 yards on five carries, it’s time the Broncos lean heavily on Badie and Jaleel McLaughlin. It can’t hurt.

—Paul Klee, The Denver Gazette