Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix shined in Sunday’s 26-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. From start to finish, the Broncos offense was efficient, and Nix’s operation was clean most of the afternoon. On top of that, his decision-making was solid outside of a couple of plays, but he turned in his best performance of the year to date.
Denver Broncos Film Room: Bo Nix vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
From the onset of Sunday’s game, Bo Nix and Sean Payton came out firing as the Broncos offense marched downfield and scored a touchdown on their first two possessions of the game.
Bo Nix delivers a backshoulder strike to Courtland Sutton
Tampa comes out with a single high safety look (I hope you were happy Mel Kiper Jr.) — Denver comes out in 12 personnel (one running back, two tight ends.) The corner at the bottom of the screen plays Courtland Sutton in man coverage, as he works the vertical release. Nix places the football high, outside and to the backshoulder where Sutton body adjusts perfectly to haul in the catch. Denver’s pass protection also gave Nix a clean pocket.
Nix finds Josh Reynolds with a nice pop shot
The Bucs send seven against Nix on this play with both inside linebackers and a nickel defender coming. Denver’s offensive line gives Nix time to set his feet and throw, and he capitalizes with a beautifully placed football to Josh Reynolds, marching them into the red zone. Quinn Meinerz works against the three-technique, while Luke Wattenberg and Ben Powers work against the one-technique. Adam Trautman takes the outside linebacker one-on-one, Javonte Williams picks up the nickel defender, and Alex Palczewski helps chip the nickel and the three-technique. Nix got the ball out quickly here and was decisive on where he was going. Great rep from the rookie.
Nix makes a mistake during Broncos free play vs. Tampa
This was a free play for Nix and the Broncos’ offense due to the Bucs’ defender jumping offside. My only critique here of Nix has to do with ball security. There have been several instances when he’s running with the football where he palms it. Understanding it’s a free play, you can take some chances if it leads to a touchdown, but on this play here, nothing is open in the passing game — live to see another day and throw it away. If it weren’t a free play, this could have been a costly decision.
Bo scrambles for a touchdown
Nix punches it in here off of boot action. Courtland Sutton runs vertically across the back of the endzone, Adam Trautman chip releases and runs an out, while Nate Adkins stays in to protect. Javonte Williams is climbing to the flat. The Bucs defense commits to cover every receiving option, and nobody accounts for Nix’s legs on the ground as he caps off Denver’s first drive with a score.
Nix takes advantage of the Bucs decoy coverage
There’s nothing flashy here on this play as the Broncos offense comes out in empty, but Tampa Bay’s cornerback is lined up back as Javonte Williams lines up far to the outside as the number one receiver. Greg Dulcich runs a slot fade. Ideally, the defense didn’t respect Williams on the outside, where most units would view him as a decoy. Nix notices the corner’s depth and fires a quick shot on the hitch to Williams, who picks up a few extra yards to give them a manageable third and short.
Bo and Troy Franklin can’t connect on a beautiful design
It was great to see Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims on the field at the same time. On this play, in particular, Denver runs a fake toss to the left side, and Nix rolls to his right. Lil’Jordan Humphrey and Adam Trautman stay in to block as extra defenders as this really opens up to be a two-man route. Mims embraces the contact from the corner, gets up the hash, and turns it into a post pattern, drawing the safety and backside cornerback. Franklin comes across on the deep over, and if Bo throws the ball a second sooner, it turns into a big gain. Also, it can be debated whether or not Franklin should have turned it up the field a bit more vertically toward the end of the route, but he still came close to getting two feet in. The speed package with Mims and Franklin will be fun to watch unfold more as the season progresses.
Nix has eyes in the back of his head, evades disastrous play
This was one of the most impressive plays from Nix of the season. One of the Bucs’ outside defenders does a great job of timing the snap and beats Garett Bolles to the outside, where he’s got a clear path toward Nix on a sprint pass design. Nix is open for a clear shot by the defender and somehow senses the backside pursuit, steps up, and evades pressure and contact on his way to a 22-yard scamper. His speed and athleticism are such an underrated part of his game, and at this point, he was the team’s leading rusher on the afternoon until Tyler Badie rattled off a 43-yard run.
We’ll be back next Tuesday for another film room session for Bo Nix and Denver’s offense against the New York Jets.