The Denver Broncos entered this season hoping to discover whether or not Bo Nix would be their franchise quarterback or could be molded into that going forward. 11 weeks into the season, Broncos fans and players inside the locker room have confidence in their belief that Nix is the guy, and his growth has demonstrated that.
Denver Broncos locker room has bought into Bo Nix entirely
We caught up with Broncos head coach Sean Payton on Monday morning for his weekly press conference brief and the hot topic of the day was Bo Nix and his performance — as a matter of fact the first five questions had to do with Nix, which prompted Payton to hit the pause button on the number of questions asked about him.
“Let’s not send this kid to Canton quite yet,” Payton joked. “We’re sitting here in the middle of the season. He’s playing well. I’m excited. The film showed that he’s playing well. The film showed a few things though that I wanted to scream at him about. We’ll keep correcting those things. I like the way he prepares. I love the way he comes to work. I love his enthusiasm. I think it’s naturally contagious. I think he’s a winner. It’s interesting because you guys real time are seeing it just like we are. I’m real encouraged by that.”
As it pertains to the locker room and their belief in Nix, players haven’t been shy about expressing how they feel about the rookie quarterback.
“I think he’s incredible,” Garett Bolles said. “Bo is my dog, and he leads his team. He leads this offense. We go as far as his play. Us five up front just needed to handle business and that’s what we did. What makes him so special is when he has time to throw the ball, he gets the ball to our playmakers. He’s a deadly quarterback in this league.”
“He’s been on fire all year,” Marvin Mims said. “He’s been doing really well, especially his confidence and the way he carries himself in the locker room. We really didn’t feel like we had a rookie. He just feels like an experienced veteran, and he’s been on the field every play. With his elusiveness and being able to extend plays, he doesn’t quit on any plays. He’s Bo Nix. He wants to make the most of every play so it’s a lot of fun playing with him.”
“It’s a lot of fun,” Courtland Sutton said. “I made the comment, but the dude should be in conversations for rookie of the year. There should be no hesitation. He shows up week-in and week-out, he’s only been able to progress each weekend. That’s all you can ask for. For a young guy to continue to progress, continue to meet the challenges that are faced in front of them, and that is what he continues to do. It’s a lot of fun to be a part of. A lot of fun to watch him go out there and just have fun. You can tell he’s like a kid, he is just enjoying himself. For your quarterback to be out there enjoying himself and not panic, there’s not one ounce of panic that goes upon him, no matter what part of the game we’re in. It’s a lot of fun.”
Those are just some examples after Sunday’s game that saw Nix rip the Falcons defense apart for four touchdowns, but Payton’s message on the belief this team and locker room has in Nix speaks volumes.
“I think it’s pretty powerful, and here’s why—just having experienced it for a long stretch with another player in [former Saints QB Drew] Brees,” Payton said. “You always believe you’re in each game. You always believe—even if you fall behind—you’re in each game. The opposite can be very difficult. I think that player who’s touching the ball on every offensive play, it definitely can lead to a direction—both mentally as well as on the field—lead to a direction [of] how a team thinks.”
At 6-5, the Denver Broncos are in control of their own destiny and must continue to play their best brand of football if they hope to make it to the postseason. They currently sit in the 7th spot of the Wildcard and are eying the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals, and Indianapolis Colts, who are trailing behind them.