Now that you’ve already lost your ever-loving, Barrel-man-brain, take a deep breath and know that nobody in these parts is wondering what size gold jacket Bo Nix wears. Nobody is wondering whether the bronze statue that will eventually sit at Burnham Yards will don No. 7 or No. 10. Nobody is putting Bo Nix on the same orange pedestal as John Elway.
Bo Nix is not John Elway.
(But read on anyway).
Nix doesn’t have the rocket arm that Elway had, that was evident yesterday in Houston on several deep passes that were either broken up or intercepted. Elway had a cannon; Nix has a good, solid big game hunting rifle.
Both quarterbacks use(d) their legs better than most. Nix makes plays with his legs that are often on par with Elway, who was known early on for his wild athletic ability once he was on the loose. Still, “Houdini in a Helmet” wasn’t a nickname given to Elway simply because he could run – The Duke had an entertainingly uncanny escapeability ability. Nix, who has outstanding pocket presence (and an offensive line that a young John Elway could only dream of), plays it safe more often than not. On several occasions against the Texans, a scream could be heard from anywhere along the front range: “Run! Run! Just run for the first… Why didn’t he run it?!”
Elway was a riverboat gambler, a magician; Nix is more of a calculated mathematician.
Perhaps the biggest similarity shared by Nix and Elway in their early years?
The offense in which they operate.
Now, realize for a moment that any NFL “offense” in the early ‘80s was vastly different from the high-flying, aerial assaults of the modern game. Numbers, for Nix and Elway, or for any team of that era compared to this era, are incomparable. For example, in Elway’s first two seasons – a sample size of just 24 games played – he was allowed to throw just 639 times for 4,261 yards. Nix has now played in 26 games, throwing 889 times for 5,751 yards. By comparison, Nix numbers look Canton-esque. In reality, Elway is the only Hall of Famer in the conversation. Different times, different games.
However, Dan Reeves – with Elway, no less – famously implemented the run, run, pass, punt offense. Long before Terrell Davis came to town, Reeves regularly opted to put the ball in the hands of his mediocre stable of running backs rather than letting Elway sling it. Sean Payton is widely considered an offensive genius, but as of late, his screen, run, bubble, punt offense looks like a new twist on Reeves’ old gameplan. Both coaches did/do this for three quarters – or just about the time it takes to fall asleep on the couch – and then they let loose, allowing their quarterback to make something happen.
And that’s where the two might be on a similar path.
During his illustrious career, Elway tallied a record-setting 47 fourth-quarter, come-from-behind comebacks. Nix already has six.
Elway had The Drive. Nix has the Giants.
Broncos fans in the ‘80s cursed at Elway and Reeves for three quarters until they stopped; all was forgiven by Sunday night. Broncos fans today gripe just the same; on Monday mornings, we’re all smiles.
Not only are Nix’s Broncos 7-2, holding the best record in the entire AFC, but they’re the best fourth-quarter team in all of football.
Bo isn’t Elway, not yet at least. But Bo knows how to win.
In that respect, these two gunslingers aren’t so different.
