Before Bo Nix took a victory lap around Empower Field to celebrate the Broncos’ first playoff berth in nine years, the rookie quarterback first had to earn his teammates’ trust.
That was earned on a Friday morning in August during a joint practice with the Packers. And Nix only needed four plays during a two-minute drill to do it.
The first-round pick quickly led Denver down the field, put his team in scoring position, and created more separation between him and Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson in the team’s starting quarterback competition.
“We got within five yards of scoring, and (Green Bay) said, ‘Let’s start it over,’” wide receiver Courtland Sutton recalled after the Broncos beat Kansas City, 38-0, on Sunday to clinch a playoff spot.
“Seeing a young guy like Bo — this was probably three weeks into training camp — to go out there and orchestrate a two-minute drill against a defense of that caliber was definitely encouraging.”
Green Bay arrived in Denver as one of the best teams in the NFC, led by star quarterback Jordan Love. The Broncos, on the other hand, had low expectations after seven straight losing seasons.
That morning, the Heisman finalist made a statement. Nix was sharp, played in rhythm and took care of the football. His teammates took notice. More importantly, the “young and hungry” Broncos realized they wouldn’t have to wait to become playoff contenders.
The time was now.
“Against Green Bay, you’re competing against live bullets, and you go down (the field) in the two-minute drill a couple of times, and you’re like ‘OK, this kid got something special,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “He’s made of the right stuff.”
On the other practice field, Denver’s defense wreaked havoc, foreshadowing the unit’s regular-season dominance. Edge rusher Nik Bonitto played like the Pro Bowler he turned out to be, recording multiple pressures during the team period and even forcing Love to throw a pick-six.
Love struggled against the Broncos’ secondary. During the two-minute period, he nearly threw two interceptions. Then on third down, star cornerback Pat Surtain II disrupted a pass to wideout Romeo Doubs. Green Bay’s first-team offense retreated to the sideline.
Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said afterward that the Broncos humbled the Packers. Denver added more salt to the wound with a 27-2 victory in the preseason game at home a few days later. The defense forced two turnovers and held Green Bay to 168 yards. Nix shined, completing 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown in his first and only start of the preseason.
“For a couple of days, we had set ourselves apart,” McGlinchey said. “It gave us a belief that we can compete with anybody.”
Months later, their belief was rewarded.
Against a Chiefs defense resting multiple starters, Nix displayed the same efficiency he showcased against the Packers. He completed his first 18 pass attempts — the most by any rookie to open a game in NFL history — and finished with 321 yards and four touchdowns to secure Denver’s 10th win. His performance concluded a remarkable regular season, in which recorded 3,775 passing yards and 34 total touchdowns — third-most by a rookie in NFL history.
Going into Sunday’s matchup against the Bills in the Wild Card round, the Broncos are 8.5-point underdogs. Still, their trust in Nix, first established that day in August, remains strong.
“We have a relentless quarterback, No. 10,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “… Let the doubters doubt.”
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