The Denver Broncos stand at 2-2, tied for second in the AFC West, but their record is likely to fall below .500 unless rookie quarterback Bo Nix shows significant improvement.
Selected as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Nix completed just 12 of 25 passes for 60 yards and one touchdown in a narrow 10-9 victory over the New York Jets. Notably, he recorded minus-7 passing yards in the first half, making his 60 total passing yards the lowest in a Broncos win since John Elway’s debut in 1983, according to CBS Sports.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton attributed some of Nix’s struggles to the rainy conditions in New York but still expressed satisfaction with his performance. “He played well,” Payton stated, as reported by Broncos beat writer Zac Stevens.
While Nix secured the win, calling his performance “well” is debatable. NFL researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming noted that Nix is the first quarterback in Super Bowl history to win a game with an average of less than 2.5 yards per attempt on at least 25 attempts.
When asked if he was losing confidence in Nix after the first-half struggles, Payton defended him vigorously. “Heck no. At some point, we’ll stop with the confidence. This kid is confident now,” he said. “I should send him out to dinner with every one of you, and you’ll see.”
Although it’s natural for Payton to support the team’s first-round pick, Nix is one of the most experienced rookie quarterbacks ever, finishing his college career with 61 starts. Despite this experience, he currently ranks 25th in passing yards (660), 34th in touchdowns (1), and is tied for fourth-most interceptions (4) in the league.
Although a quarterback change seems unlikely, the Broncos do have two other quarterbacks with starting experience, Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson, on the roster.
Denver finished last season at 8-9 under Payton, and anything less than a playoff appearance this year would be disappointing. The Broncos have not made the playoffs since their Super Bowl win in 2015 against the Carolina Panthers. If Nix’s performance does not improve, the team may struggle to match last season’s win total.
