The Denver Broncos are 2-2 and tied for second in the AFC West, but their record is bound to drop below .500 if rookie quarterback Bo Nix doesn't start improving.
Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, was 12-of-25 for just 60 yards with one passing touchdown in a 10-9 win over the New York Jets. Nix had minus-7 passing yards in the first half, and per CBS Sports, Nix's 60 total passing yards are the fewest in a Broncos win since John Elway's first career game back in 1983.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton said that the rainy weather in New York "was a factor with the ball" and was pleased with Nix's performance.
"He played well," Payton said about Nix, per Broncos beat writer Zac Stevens.
Nix won the game, but saying he played well is a stretch. Per NFL researcher Dante Koplowitz-Fleming, Nix is the first quarterback in the Super Bowl era to win a game with an average lower than 2.5 yards per attempt with at least 25 attempts.
Payton was asked if he began to lose confidence in Nix after he threw for negative yardage in the first half. Payton responded by defending Nix.
“Heck no. At some point, we’ll stop with the confidence. This kid is confident now," Payton said. "I should send him out to dinner with every one of you and you’ll see.”
While it's understandable that Payton will go to bat for Denver's first-round pick, Nix is as experienced a rookie as there's ever been at the quarterback position. Nix, 24, ended his college career as the most experienced quarterback in history with 61 starts. Despite being a seasoned rookie, Nix ranks No. 25 in passing yards (660), no. 34 in passing touchdowns (1) and his four interceptions are tied for fourth-most in the league.
While it seems highly unlikely Payton will make a quarterback change, there are two other quarterbacks on the roster with starting experience in Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Denver finished 8-9 last season in Payton's first year with the franchise and anything short of a playoff appearance this year will be a disappointment. The Broncos haven't made the playoffs since 2015, which ended in a Super Bowl victory over the Carolina Panthers. If Nix's numbers don't improve the Broncos will be lucky to even reach their win total from last season.
