Of the three rookie quarterbacks making their NFL debuts, Bo Nix went into Sunday surrounded by most questions.
He led a late touchdown drive to keep the Denver Broncos afloat, but otherwise provided few encouraging answers in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Nix largely struggled while leading a stagnant Denver offense. He found himself under heavy pressure from an aggressive Seahawks defense intent on flustering the rookie quarterback. He responded repeatedly with ill-advised downfield throws that resulted in incompletions and a pair of interceptions. Two Broncos drives that started in the Seahawks red zone ended with field goals.
Nix’s second interception prompted an audible “oh no” from CBS’ Adam Archulta, who could see that the pass was destined for a turnover before Tariq Woolen picked it off.
That interception stunted a late comeback attempt as the Seahawks carried a 26-13 lead. When the day was done, Nix completed 26 of 42 attempts for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He averaged 3.3 yards per attempt. He added 35 yards on five carries, including a late touchdown run that cut Denver’s deficit to one score before the Seahawks ran out the clock.
Missed early opportunities for Broncos
Denver’s offense was spotted a head start when an Alex Singleton interception of Geno Smith set the Broncos offense up at the Seattle 20-yard line on its first possession of the game. The Broncos gained three yards and settled for a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
The Broncos followed up with three-and-outs on their next two drives before threatening to score a touchdown for the first time. But Nix threw a downfield pass off his back foot into double coverage in the end zone that Julian Love intercepted.
Denver’s next possession ended with a three and out before the Broncos were spotted another possession that started in the red zone — this time at the 9-yard line following a muffed Seattle punt return.
The Broncos lost two yards on the possession and kicked a field goal. Nix was flagged for a false start on first down after leaving his position under center before the snap, putting the Broncos at first-and-goal from the 14. After two runs, Nix threw into double coverage in the end zone again. This time, his pass targeting Courtland Sutton fell incomplete.
Denver’s second-half possessions consisted of three three-and-outs, a fumble by Jaleel McLaughlin and Nix’s second interception before the Broncos found the end zone for the first time on their final drive. Nix scrambled out of pressure on a first-and-goal pass play and ran right into the end zone.
But it was too little, too late as the Seahawks ran out the clock on the ensuing possession.
On the day, Denver tallied 231 yards of total offense and turned the ball over two times. It failed to capitalize on two Seahawks turnovers and two safeties secured by the Broncos defense. Denver converted 5 of 18 third-down attempts.
How will Nix progress?
Nix was the sixth and final quarterback taken in the first round of April’s draft with the 12th pick out of Oregon. The pick drew criticism from analysts who questioned whether or not Nix was a first-round talent. The selection put pressure on second-year head coach Sean Payton, whose fate will be tied to Nix’s successes and failures.
“I never felt like it was too big or confusing,” Payton said of Nix’s play after the game. “He was sharp. I thought he actually extended some plays with his feet.
“We’ll look at the tape. We have to be better around him.”
The Broncos now have a week to prepare for Nix’s home debut next Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.