After a 1-2 start to the season, it seemed as if the sophomore slump was officially underway for Bo Nix. The 25-year-old and the Denver Broncos QB completed just 64% of his passes in those three games, and his three interceptions undermined whatever production there was to find.
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However, Nix and the Broncos have now managed to rattle off a four-game win streak that includes a victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Thanks to a thrilling 33-32 triumph over the New York Giants in Week 7, the Broncos are now 5-2 and are front-runners in their division. But then, that win was also rife with dysfunction.
According to Colleen Wolfe, Nix and Co. “looked hapless through those first three quarters,” but turned into heroes when they were “under a deadline.” Calling it “procrastination at its finest,” Wolfe said that such laxity will bite them come playoff time.
“Honestly, for Bo Nix, I feel bad for him today because if you heard what Sean Payton said after the game… He was like ‘It’s going to be a tough Monday for everyone. Yes, we won the game, but there’s a lot to clean up.’ I just feel like that’s a scary thought,” said Wolfe.
However, a win is a win. They may not have covered the spread or scored a walk-off touchdown. But the Broncos still managed to display grit, which would come in handy in the quest for their first playoff win since 2015.
The Week 7 classic will now add to the emerging highlight reel of Nix, who is starting to play toward landing a massive rookie contract extension. Since Week 3, he has averaged 255.25 passing yards per game and has limited the damage to just one interception.
This is the fifth time that the Broncos have scored 33 or more points in a game since Nix became their starter. From 2020 to 2023, they only scored 33+ points in a game on three occasions.
Factor in that Nix, as a rookie, was able to give the Broncos their first winning season since 2016, and there can be no underselling of just how much he means to this franchise. Of course, there won’t be any time for him to rest on his laurels just yet.
The Dallas Cowboys figure to test his offensive mettle in Week 8. In the first half of the season, the Cowboys are one of just two teams that have scored more than 200 points, and no one has produced more offensive yards than they have.
Their lackluster defense is practically inviting teams to a shootout every week. And that’s exactly what Nix should prepare for on Sunday. If he truly is the hotshot signal caller he was touted to be, then this will be the perfect opportunity for him to show up in a big way.
