There’s a lot of hype surrounding Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix, and each week here on Mile High Sports, we’ll break down his biggest moments as part of our film room series. Here’s a look at Nix’s performance in Sunday’s win against the Green Bay Packers, including his connection with Tim Patrick.
Denver Broncos Film Room: Bo Nix and Tim Patrick connection shines
It was great to see Patrick have the success he had in Sunday’s preseason game. Having suffered two major season-ending injuries in back-to-back years is an obstacle not many can climb, but he did, and it was a feel-good moment.
Patrick comes underneath for a chip and catch from Nix
This is a fun design out of the I-formation for Denver’s offense. Patrick does a great job coming underneath the formation here. The Broncos offensive line does a great job of selling run here by downblocking with Michael Burton and Jaleel McLaughlin selling their run looks as well. Courtland Sutton does a great job climbing backside at the second level, which gives Nix two options to throw to as Adam Trautman’s vertical route frees up the underneath concepts to Sutton/Patrick.
Nix, Patrick take what the Packers defense gives them
Patrick and Nix attacked the Packers’ zone defense early and often. Green Bay’s linebackers gave up a lot of ground in their dropbacks, which allowed the QB-WR pair to play pitch and catch.
Nix finds Patrick on 3rd and 9 for a big gain
Another promising area of Nix’s game operating the offense has been his ability to be decisive and get the ball out of his hands quickly. He also makes the smart play and attacks the Packers Tampa-2 look here, with the inside linebacker dropping to the deep middle, corners playing underneath, Patrick gets depth vertically and sits past the sticks with good body positioning, and Nix finds him for a 14-yard gain to move the chains.
Nix finds Patrick for a Broncos touchdown
Patrick’s first touchdown in two years was a special moment for him and the rest of the team, who celebrated him after the game. On this play, Denver sells the run hard once again while Patrick comes underneath the formation once the ball is snapped and gets to the flats — McLaughlin also goes to the flats which puts No. 45 in a bind between McLaughlin and Patrick, while 55 is the player designed to come free. On the backside, Sutton comes across on a drag, while Josh Reynolds releases vertically and turns it into an out route, which frees up space for a wide-open touchdown.
Nix turns potential negative play into positive yardage
Over the course of the past two or three seasons, the Broncos offense has seen plenty of plays like this lead to a sack for negative yardage. This isn’t a play that’s flashy by any means, but it’s different from what the Broncos have experienced from the QB position from a decision-making standpoint. Out of the pistol, Nix sells the play-action handoff and scans the field for a potential open receiver, but nobody is there, especially as pressure starts to come from the right side. Nix’s sense that the pocket will no longer remain clean prompts him to take it, picking up several yards and avoiding a sack that would have put them in a long field situation.
Scramble drill touchdown to Javonte Williams called back
This was from Nix’s first series of the game, where he and the Denver Broncos offense marched downfield. Initially, Nix threw a touchdown here to Javonte Williams off of the scramble drill, but he stepped over the line of scrimmage. The rookie QB joked after the game that instant replay gets the best of everybody sometimes. Even though this didn’t count, Nix’s mind was in the right place, and more importantly, the Broncos skill players executed the scramble drill here to perfection.
The Broncos offense might have an effective screen game in 2024
Denver does a great job executing the tailback screen here. This play has been abysmal for the Broncos in the last six seasons, but with Nix, it appears it could be back. Not only do Nix and Williams execute this pitch and catch to perfection, but Denver’s offensive line does a great job of selling and getting downfield to block second-level defenders, and Williams does the rest.
Nix finds Sutton for 23-yard gain to set up first and goal
Nix and the Broncos offense do a great job here against another zone coverage look by the Packers defense. Pass protection by the offensive line holds up while Lucas Krull runs underneath on a crosser, McLaughlin swings out to the flat and turns it into a wheel, while Patrick releases vertically up the hashes to hold the safety in the middle of the field for a moment. Sutton takes advantage of the cornerback man turning instead of zone turning which gives him enough spacing to break inside for a 23-yard catch in between the safety and corner. This helped set up Patrick’s touchdown.
Stay tuned each week here on Mile High Sports as we conduct two weekly film series — one highlighting Bo Nix and the other focusing on a defensive player who stood out.
