Bo Nix’s latest outing against the Seattle Seahawks gave Colin Cowherd plenty to work with, and the radio host didn’t waste it. After a rough Thursday night for the Denver Broncos quarterback, Cowherd slapped on a new label that could stick around as the season rolls on: “Bo’ Short of the Sticks’ Nix”.
Nix’s night never really got going. He completed 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards, did not throw a touchdown, and never connected on a pass longer than eight yards beyond the line of scrimmage. He also averaged under four yards per attempt in what was easily his toughest game of the 2026 campaign so far.
That performance drew heat from all directions. Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick blasted Nix during the broadcast, calling his play disrespectful to the QB position. Fitzpatrick was far from alone in piling on.
Cowherd’s criticism centered on the same thing everybody saw: the constant checkdowns and the lack of threat downfield. “The Broncos offense can be measured in inches,” Cowherd joked during his radio broadcast. He also said opposing defensive coordinators have now figured out how to attack that cautious style.
The timing of the collapse mattered, too, because the Broncos came in at 4-2 after a demanding first stretch of the schedule. Their wins have come against the Jaguars, Rams, Chargers, and Seahawks, with losses to the undefeated Chiefs and 49ers.
Thursday night also brought a couple of markers for Nix’s season. It was the first time he failed to throw a touchdown pass all year, and his 107 yards marked the second-lowest passing total of his career. More than that, it was clearly his worst showing of the season.
For now, Denver’s ceiling seems tied directly to how much Nix can expand the offense. At the moment, that doesn’t look like very far.
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