Buccaneers and Rams promise game of Week 3

Two weeks into the season, no team has scored more points than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or thrown more touchdown passes than Tom Brady. No one dares to write off a 44-year-old quarterback or the defending Super Bowl champions, who appear to be on a mission.

But neither has anyone so far shown the credentials boasted by the Los Angeles Rams as they attempt to put the first scratch on the Bucs’ crown.

SoFi Stadium, site of the upcoming Super Bowl, will host Sunday’s showdown between two of the seven teams with perfect records in the current campaign. Tom Brady vs. Aaron Donald, the NFL’s most explosive offense against one of the league’s elite defenses. Two of the brightest offensive minds: Sean McVay and Bruce Arians facing off.

The visiting team has won each of the last three meetings in the series, including last season’s Week 11 matchup when the Rams went to Tampa Bay and came away with a 27-24 victory thanks to Jordan Fuller’s interception of a Brady pass that sealed the game with 1:57 minutes left.

Now, Brady has a chance to avenge the affront and, as always, rewrite history.

In what will be the first visit to Los Angeles for a regular-season game in his legendary career, Brady will see action in his 37th city and 44th different stadium, both NFL records.

Legacy is important to Brady, but wins are more so. And Tampa Bay has nine straight wins, including playoffs, in which it has scored at least 30 points. Maintaining the streak is a particularly difficult mission against a Rams team that hasn’t allowed more than 30 points in a regular season since Week 3 of 2020.

However, the Rams have a way to respond, not only with a defense that comes into the game among the NFL’s best against the pass, but with an offense led by new quarterback Matthew Stafford, who is looking for his fourth consecutive game with at least two touchdown passes and a 100-point rating.

What is presumed to be a showdown between a relentless offense and an impenetrable defense could turn into an aerial duel thanks to the presence of Rob Gronkowski (Tampa Bay), who leads the league in touchdown receptions with four. The Rams feature wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who leads the NFL with 16 receptions and is third in yards with 271.