Nix runs for a TD and Lutz kicks 4 FGs to lead Broncos to 26-7 victory over listless Buccaneers

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Bo Nix's first NFL touchdown pass is still to come. For now, he and the Denver Broncos will settle for celebrating the rookie quarterback's first pro win.

The 12th overall pick in this year's draft shrugged off a pair of losses to begin season, running for an early touchdown and eliminating costly mistakes to lead the Broncos (1-2) to a 26-7 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

“It felt great. We played really well,” Nix said. "We went out there and executed at a high level, and that’s what it’s supposed to feel like when you get back in the locker room. The guys were really excited. You put so much into the week. You put so much effort, time and energy, and that is what those moments are about.”

Wil Lutz kicked field goals of 43, 38, 33 and 43 yards for Denver, which was facing the the prospect of starting 0-3 for the secod straght season under coach Sean Payton.

Nix completed 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards without an interception after tossing four of them in his team's first two games.

“I say this, and I mean this, and it's so important — and I include myself and the offensive coaching staff, Payton said. "It's our job to paint a perfect picture for this player. And if we do that ... and when we do that, this guy is going to be something.”

Denver's defense did its part in support of Nix, too, sacking Baker Mayfield seven times and intercepting the Bucs quarterback once to set up a first-quarter touchdown.

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

The three-time defending NFC South champion Bucs (2-1), looking to start a season with three consecutive victories for the first time since 2005, were limited to 223 yards total offense. The loss was especially disappointing for them because it cames on the heels of beating Detroit on the road the previous week.

Mayfield was 25 of 33 passing for 163 yards, including a 6-yard scoring throw to Chris Godwin in the second quarter. Rookie Bucky Irving set up the touchdown with runs of 32 and 13 yards.

“There are a few things that we need to look at the tape and get fixed,” Mayfield said.

“This is a good lesson for our team overall. You have to prepare like you're playing in a playoff game every week or this can happen," Mayfield added. “It's a good lesson for the young guys a who haven't seen it before of what you need to be prepared for, how detailed we need to be.”

In 20 drives — excluding the end of a half — under Nix in the first two games, the Broncos had just two touchdowns and two field goals to go with 11 punts, three interceptions and two turnovers on downs. On Sunday, the rookie got off to a much better start — with completions of 22, 6 and 31 yards on the first three plays to move Denver downfield after the opening kickoff.

Nix finished the six-play, 70-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run. Later in the first quarter, the Broncos turned Brandon Jones' interception and 37-yard return to the Tampa Bay 9 into Jaleel McLaughlin's 1-yard scoring run for a 14-point lead that Lutz expanded to 17-0 with a 43-yard field goal.

The Bucs dominated No. 2 overall draft pick Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders in Week 1. The loss to Nix dropped Tampa Bay to 11-6 against opposing rookie QBs since coach Todd Bowles joined the team as defensive coordinator under Bruce Arians in 2019.

“We didn't take them lightly. We didn't play well,” Bowles said. “We have to coach it better, and we have to play it better. That starts with me.”

The Buccaneers played without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield, Jr (foot) and starting DL Vita Vea (knee) and Calijah Kancey (calf) and RT Luke Goedeke (concussion), who were inactive. ... Long snapper Evan Deckers left with a hamstring injury in the secod half.

Broncos: Remain on the road to face the New York Jets next Sunday.

Buccaneers: Host Philadelphia in a rematch of a NFC wild-card matchup won by Tampa Bay last January.

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A previous version of this story corrected the spelling of the first name of Lutz to Wil instead of Will.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving celebrates a long run against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is stopped as he tries to get between Denver Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto (15) and defensive end Zach Allen (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin, left, celebrates his touchdown catch against the Denver Broncos with teammates including running back Rachaad White (1) during the first half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass during the second half of an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Denver Broncos place kicker Wil Lutz (3) kicks a 43-yard field goal against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) throws a pass against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) throws a pass over Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Tykee Smith (23) during the first half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin makes a reception in front of Denver Broncos cornerback Riley Moss for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix runs for a first down against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on a fourth and one play during the first half of an NFL football game, in Tampa, Fla. on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Eugene “Mercury” Morris, who starred for the unbeaten 1972 Miami Dolphins as part of a star-studded backfield and helped the team win two Super Bowl titles, has died, the team said Sunday.

Morris, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, was 77. In a statement, his family said his “talent and passion left an indelible mark on the sport.”

“Beyond the field, Mercury was a devoted father, a loving brother, a loyal friend, and a pillar in the community,” his family wrote in the statement. “His presence extended far beyond football, as he touched the lives of many throughout his time in Miami.”

Morris was the starting halfback and one of three go-to runners that Dolphins coach Don Shula used in Miami’s back-to-back title seasons of 1972 and 1973, alongside Pro Football Hall of Famer Larry Csonka and Jim Kiick. Morris led the Dolphins in rushing touchdowns in both of those seasons, finishing with an NFL-best 12 in 1972 and then 10 more in 1973.

“Morris left a lasting impact through his dynamic play, personality and record-breaking performances,” read part of a statement from the Dolphins on Sunday. “He loved the Dolphins, the fans and the community of South Florida and will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players to don the aqua and orange.”

Those 1972 and 1973 seasons — the best in Dolphins’ history — just happened to be the best of Morris’ eight-year career as well. He rushed for a career-high 1,000 yards in 1972, then ran for 954 more along with a league-best 6.4 yards per carry the following season.

Morris wasted no time making an impact on the Dolphins. In the first game as a rookie in 1969, he ran back a kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown against Cincinnati. That remains the longest in team history, and both his three career kick return TDs and average of 26.5 yards per return also are team records.

“I think Shula gave everybody a different kind of direction and purpose being coached by this guy,” Morris said in 2008. “We were middle-class people and middle-class fans, and Shula was a blue-collar worker. And he had kind of a work ethic that really allowed you to see that if you work hard and you do what you’re supposed to do, then things are going to turn out for you — not all the time but you adjust to that and do what’s necessary to try to do as best you can.”

Morris made no secret of being filled with pride about the 1972 Dolphins being the first — and still only — undefeated and untied team in NFL history, pulling off a perfect season.

He also tried to make this clear: No, the Dolphins were not rooting against the teams that came close to matching their feat of perfection and did not have champagne on ice waiting for the moment that the last unbeaten team in a season gets defeated.

“And for the record, we DO NOT TOAST every time an unbeaten team loses,” Morris posted on social media in 2015, when the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers started 14-0 before losing the next-to-last game of their regular season. “There’s no champagne in my glass, only Canada Dry Ginger ale! Ha!”

That sense of humor also got pointed at his beloved Dolphins at times. When Miami was 0-8 in the 2007 season, on its way to a 0-13 start and 1-15 record, Morris offered another of his many memorable quips.

“The Dolphins are not embarrassing me, because our record’s at the top of the heap,” Morris said. “That’s not my team. People say, ‘Your team is doing bad.’ I say, ‘My team all has AARP cards.’”

Morris — born and raised in Pittsburgh — played his college football at West Texas A&M. He was second nationally in rushing yards to O.J. Simpson in 1967 and set what at the time were national records the following season with 340 yards in a game against Montana State, 1,571 yards in a season and 3,388 yards over a three-year career.

Morris had some personal struggles after his football career ended, most notably being sentenced to 20 years in prison after his 1982 conviction on cocaine trafficking charges. He fought the conviction, admitting he used cocaine — in part to deal with numerous lingering injuries — but never sold the drug. His conviction was overturned by the Florida Supreme Court in 1986 and Morris became a motivational speaker urging people to avoid drugs.

“Was I bitter? Not really,” Morris wrote in his book “Against The Grain,” published in 1998. “I would not recommend three days in jail to anyone, much less three years. But I must be honest: I needed to go through what I did to develop the character I had when I became a free man.”

Morris went into the Dolphins’ Walk of Fame in 2013. He remains fourth on the team’s all-time rushing list with 3,877 yards behind Csonka (6,737), Ricky Williams (6,436) and Ronnie Brown (4,815).

Said Csonka: “It's a very sad day for me and our Dolphin family.”

AP NFL: http://www.apnews.com/hub/NFL

Miami Dolphins running back Eugene "Mercury" Morris scores against the New England Patriots, during an NFL football game, Nov. 13, 1972 at Miami's Orange Bowl. (AP Photo/Jim Bourdier)

FILE - Former Miami Dolphins great Mercury Morris speaks at a news conference in Chicago, May 13, 2008, where an initiative was announced that would help retired NFL players in dire need of medical care to receive care with millions of dollars in donated medical services through Mike Ditka's Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, file)

Miami Dolphins running back Eugene "Mercury" Morris shown in 1972. (AP Photo, file)

FILE - Mercury Morris speaks to reporters before the Celebration of Life ceremony for former Miami Dolphins football head coach Don Shula on Oct. 2, 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Bryan Cereijo, file)