Projected starters
BUCS
OFFENSE
WR: Vincent Jackson
LT: Donald Penn
LG: Jeremy Zuttah
C: Ted Larsen
RG: Jamon Meredith
RT: Demar Dotson
TE: Dallas Clark
WR: Mike Williams
QB: Josh Freeman
RB: Doug Martin
FB: Erik Lorig
DEFENSE
LDE: Michael Bennett
DT: Gerald McCoy
DT: Roy Miller
RDE: Daniel
Te'o-Nesheim
SLB: Adam Hayward
MLB: Mason Foster
WLB: Lavonte David
CB: E.J. Biggers
CB: Leonard Johnson
SS: Mark Barron
FS: Ronde Barber
special teams
PR: Roscoe Parrish
KR: LeQuan Lewis
PK: Connor Barth
P/KO: Michael Koenen
Broncos
OFFENSE
WR: Demaryius Thomas
LT: Ryan Clady
LG: Zane Beadles
C: Don Koppen
RG: Chris Kuper
RT: Orlando Franklin
TE: Jacob Tamme
WR: Eric Decker
QB: Peyton Manning
RB: Knowshon Moreno
WR: Brandon Stokley
DEFENSE
LDE: Derek Wolfe
DT: Kevin Vickerson
DT: Justin Bannan
RDE: Elvis Dumervil
SLB: Von Miller
MLB: Keith Brooking
WLB: Wesley Woodyard
CB: Champ Bailey
CB: Chris Harris
SS: Mike Adams
FS: Rahim Moore
special teams
PR: Trindon Holliday
KR: Omar Bolden
PK/KO: Matt Prater
P: Britton Colquitt
Stat pack
4 p.m., Sports Authority Field, Denver | TV/radio: Ch. 13; 620-AM, 103.5-FM | Line, O/U: Broncos by 7, 50½
BUCS — Probable: DE Michael Bennett (ankle), C Ted Larsen (illness), DT Roy Miller (illness), LB Dekoda Watson (hamstring).
BRONCOS — Questionable: DE Robert Ayers (not injury related), T Chris Clark (illness), WR Brandon Stokley (wrist, hip). Probable: TE Virgil Green (hamstring), DE Malik Jackson (finger), G Chris Kuper (ankle), CB Tracy Porter (illness), G Manny Ramirez (back), WR Demaryius Thomas (knee).
The Bucs are 3-0 against the AFC West but today meet the pacesetter. The Broncos have won six straight and can clinch the division by beating the Bucs. Only once in that stretch, 17-9 against the Chiefs last week, have the Broncos scored fewer than 30 points.
Broncos' top offensive player
Quarterback Peyton Manning, right, has surpassed expectations coming off a career-threatening neck injury and is setting NFL records once again. Among the marks he has established this season is most 300-yard passing games (69).
Broncos' top defensive player
End Von Miller, left, was last season's defensive rookie of the year and hasn't let up in 2012. Third in the NFL with 14 sacks, Miller also is tied for first in the league with 24 tackles-for-loss.
What the Broncos do best
Denver throws the ball efficiently with a league-best 49 completions of 20 yards or longer and is tied (with the Bucs) for third in yards per pass attempt (8).
How you beat the Broncos
Time of possession is a major factor when the opposing quarterback is Peyton Manning. The Chiefs, behind a strong rushing performance, used a time-of-possession advantage to keep things close.
The Bucs must avoid …
He doesn't throw many interceptions (eight this season), but they are key against Peyton Manning. He has a modest .541 win percentage in games in which he has thrown one.
Prediction Broncos 31, Bucs 26
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