Broncos mix it up on defensive coverages

DENVER • The Broncos stayed unbeaten at home by throwing a change-up at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

With the success of their running game through four weeks, the Buccaneers expected to face man-to-man coverage on their receivers Sunday. But the Broncos opted for a cover-2 zone.

That surprise, combined with five offensive penalties and a second-half quarterback change, made for a disjointed day for the Buccaneers offense in a 16-13 loss.

“It throws you for a loop,” wide receiver Michael Clayton said of the Broncos’ defensive about-face. “Against cover-2, you have to find the holes. … We just didn’t make the plays.”

Added running back Warrick Dunn: “Penalties really killed us. We cost ourselves momentum and being able to move the football down the field.”

Buccaneers starter Brian Griese, whose throwing arm was injured when cornerback Champ Bailey’s helmet collided with his elbow, was replaced midway through the third quarter by 38-year-old backup Jeff Garcia.

Though it was reported initially as a shoulder injury, Griese said after the game that his shoulder was only “a little bit sore but it’s not anything structural” and the issue was “swelling” and “pain trying to grip the ball.”

Garcia (13 of 17, 93 yards) was nominally more efficient than Griese (13 of 19, 88 yards), but each lacked rhythm in all but two drives in the waning minutes of the second and fourth quarters.

With less than 8 minutes left, Garcia engineered a 13-play, 90-yard scoring drive — in spite of a third false-start penalty of the half and the Broncos’ third sack — using short passes and a scramble.

“We struggled,” Garcia said. “Those first few drives were not good.”

After the 2-minute warning in the first half, Griese led a 49-yard effort that gave the Buccaneers a first down on the 17-yard line with 23 seconds to go.

Dunn’s 4-yard run put the Buccaneers in position to try for a quick touchdown, but coach Jon Gruden opted to run the clock and settle for a field goal.

Of the decision not to take a shot or two in the end zone, wide receiver Ike Hilliard said: “We sure would have liked to, but at the end of the day, we just need to play better ball offensively. … We can’t wait as an offense until it’s the fourth quarter with 7 minutes or so to go to start making plays or being productive.”