November 27th 2024.
Thanksgiving is always a special time, filled with delicious food and family gatherings. However, for the past eight years, it also meant enduring conversations about the NFL and the Broncos. It seemed that no matter how hard we tried, the topic always turned to the quarterback and the struggles the team faced.
Emotions were high and everyone had their own opinions about what went wrong with the Broncos. The previous 13 starters ranged from mediocre to downright awful, and it was a constant buzzkill. But now, the focus has shifted to a new quarterback - Bo Nix.
I don't quite understand the skepticism surrounding Nix. I mean, after all the ups and downs since Peyton Manning retired, how can we not embrace this rookie? Personally, I am over the drama and just want to see the facts. But it seems that a certain portion of the media, both national and local, and some fans just can't seem to see the truth.
All we wanted was a quarterback who could lead the team, win games, and throw more passes to his own team than the opponents. And that's exactly what Nix has been doing. In the past 10 games, he has delivered an impressive 20 touchdowns - 16 passing, three rushing, and even one receiving. According to CBS Sports, the only other quarterbacks to match or surpass this stat line in the past 10 years are Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady, and Patrick Mahomes - all first-ballot Hall of Famers.
But despite these numbers, there are still some who refuse to acknowledge Nix's success, citing his perceived low ceiling, inconsistent footwork, and struggles against man coverage. And to make things even more baffling, there are some who claim they would rather have Russell Wilson as their quarterback. I mean, what is going on here?
Let's take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Nix is putting up historic numbers - the best by a rookie since Dak Prescott in 2016 - and yet there are still those who refuse to recognize it. They create arguments that go deeper into the weeds than bees and butterflies. It's almost as if they are letting their personal feelings cloud their judgment.
I'm not saying that everyone has to be a die-hard Nix fan, but can we at least have an open mind and use some common sense? Those who are reluctant to admit that Nix is succeeding are only revealing their own ego and making their dislike for either the kid or coach Sean Payton personal.
Personally, I had faith in Nix from the beginning because of Payton's confidence in him when he drafted him. During the combine, Payton told us that he was better at identifying a quarterback than most, and this stuck with me because his legacy as a coach hinged on this decision. He had never worked with a rookie quarterback before, but his 15 years of offensive dominance in New Orleans gave him a clear idea of what he wanted in his handpicked quarterback.
Of course, there were some bumps in the road at first, with Payton trying to make Nix do too much too soon. But after the first two losses, they found a middle ground and things started to click. Payton began to appreciate Nix's athleticism, which turned out to be even better than what scouts had expected. And his fiery personality really showed when he yelled at Payton on the sidelines during a game in October - something that the coach actually appreciated. This is what makes Nix the starter - his edge and his ability to lead the team.
Since then, Nix has been the best player on the field for the Broncos. And yet, there are still those who doubt him, saying he can't throw downfield. But the numbers don't lie - in the past five games, he has thrown for 716 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions on passes of 10 or more yards, with a rating of 126.9, according to Fox Sports. And these weren't just lucky throws - they were precise passes between defenders to Courtland Sutton and Devaughn Vele, thrown from the pocket.
Now, I'm not saying that Nix is perfect. He will have bad games, just like any other quarterback. But let's not forget what it was like with previous quarterbacks like Trevor Siemian, Brock Osweiler, Case Keenum, Joe Flacco, and Teddy Bridgewater. And the fact that some of the same people who were once cheering for Drew Lock are now refusing to acknowledge Nix's development just doesn't make sense to me.
Nix has already had four games with a completion rate of 70% or higher, with at least two touchdowns and no interceptions. Do you know how many Broncos quarterbacks have done that since Peyton Manning? Zero. Lock did it once in 24 games, and Wilson did it twice in 30 starts. And yet, there are still those who say they would rather have Wilson as their quarterback.
Yes, Wilson had some good moments last season, but the Broncos struggled in goal-to-goal situations and in the red zone. And by the time they finally beat the Chiefs last October, Payton had seen enough and decided to cut ties with Wilson. He saw that his style of play was unsustainable and didn't fit with the team's goals. And now, some people want to bring him back? It just doesn't make sense.
So let's all take a deep breath and look at the facts. Nix is playing well, and it's okay to admit it. If you're still tearing him down, then the problem is with you, not him. Let's give credit where credit is due and support our team and our quarterback. Want more Broncos news? Sign up for the Broncos Insider to get all our NFL analysis.
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