Bo Nix has already built a reputation as one of the NFL’s better young quarterbacks, and the Broncos look like a team with the right pieces in place around him. That’s why the conversation around Denver has started to drift toward something bigger: not just whether Nix is good, but whether he can push into the league’s elite tier in the 2026 NFL Season.
A big part of that case comes from what Nix did in 2025. His late-game play took a noticeable jump, and it turned him into one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the league. That development is what made Colin Cowherd’s recent comparison so striking.
Cowherd said he would take Nix over Lamar Jackson in a fourth-quarter comeback situation, and he put it plainly:
"I no longer trust Lamar Jackson in a big spot. I'm selling my stock... I'd take Bo Nix today in a 4th quarter come from behind situation over Lamar" @colincowherd and the NFL players are OUT on Lamar Jackson pic.twitter.com/IHNRHlF4Z4
- Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) July 14, 2026
At first glance, that sounds like a huge swing. But the numbers behind it are harder to dismiss than they might seem.
Lamar Jackson has 11 4th quarter comebacks and 13 game-winning drives in 116 regular season games
Bo Nix has 8 fourth quarter comebacks and 10 game-winning drives in 34 regular season games https://t.co/1n23lNTT4E
- Lou Scataglia (@LouScatagliaPO) July 14, 2026
Nix is already close to Jackson’s totals, even though Jackson has been in the league since 2018. That doesn’t mean the Broncos should be thrilled about how often they were forced into those spots, though. In 2025, Denver spent too much time playing from behind.
The Broncos were excellent at turning those games around, and that says plenty about Nix and the team’s resilience. But there’s another side to it: a club with Denver’s talent should not have needed so many escapes.
Games like the home matchup with the New York Giants should not have turned into a back-and-forth fight. And there wasn’t much reason for the Broncos to struggle against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas in 2025, especially with Kansas City using a third-string quarterback.
Still, the bigger picture is clear. The NFL has plenty of flawed teams, but it also has a lot of competent ones, and Denver proved it belongs near the top by winning most of those tight games in 2025. Nix’s clutch profile only strengthens the outlook.
Cowherd’s take may sound extreme, but it isn’t as far off as it first appears. The Broncos’ next step in 2026 is obvious: fewer late-game rescues, more control, and those comeback moments reserved for the toughest opponents.
In Other News...
Rockies Near A Trade Decision That Could Sting Fans Most
The Rockies are heading toward an August 3 trade deadline that could force Paul DePodesta and first-year manager Warren Schaeffer into some uncomfortable calls. With the front office still sorting out what this roster should look like going forward, Colorado has several names that could draw interest, and the club is weighing not just immediate return but how much it wants to keep reshaping a team still in the early stages of a new era.
Jake McCarthy is among the players drawing attention as a possible move after the All-Star break, while veteran right-hander Michael Lorenzen also sits in the mix as a trade chip. For a Rockies club that has spent much of the season evaluating pieces as much as results, the deadline is starting to look less like a routine checkpoint and more like a test of how aggressively DePodesta wants to act in his first summer running baseball operations in Denver. [Read more 🡒]
Red Sox Suddenly Linked To A Rare Catching Deadline Prize
The Rockies are heading toward the deadline in seller mode, and Hunter Goodman has already become one of the more intriguing names to watch. The All-Star catcher has emerged as one of the best offensive catchers in the game, which is exactly why a team like Boston would be paying close attention if Colorado decides to listen on veteran pieces.
For the Red Sox, the appeal is obvious: catching help is hard to find, and Goodman would fit the profile of a rare deadline prize if he ever became available. Colorado still has every reason to value him as part of its future, though, and if the Rockies keep him off the market, other clubs in need behind the plate would have to pivot to alternatives such as Tyler Stephenson. [Read more 🡒]
Why Rockies Fans May Be Stuck With Michael Lorenzen
The Rockies search for stability on the mound has pushed them into a familiar corner, leaning on veteran arms while the organization waits for younger pitchers to catch up. Michael Lorenzen has been part of that stopgap plan, taking the ball regularly and giving Colorado innings at a time when the system does not have many MLB-ready alternatives. In a rebuild that is being shaped from the top down by new president of baseball operations Paul DePodesta, that kind of placeholder value matters even when the results are uneven.
Lorenzens performance has not exactly made the case for a longer-term fit, and his contract only adds to the sense that this is more necessity than ideal. Still, the Rockies are not in a position to turn away from usable innings, especially with the club focused on long-term improvement rather than a quick fix. For now, the veteran keeps getting the ball every five days, and the bigger question is whether Colorado can eventually build enough pitching depth to make that arrangement temporary. [Read more 🡒]