Bo Nix Isn’t Flashy - He’s Just Winning, and That’s Exactly What the Broncos Need Right Now
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - No deep bombs. No highlight-reel scrambles.
No touchdown passes. And yet, Bo Nix walked off the field last Sunday having done exactly what the Denver Broncos needed from him - again.
In Denver’s 24-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, Nix completed 31 passes without a single one qualifying as “explosive.” His longest throw?
A 15-yard connection with Courtland Sutton on the opening drive - just one yard shy of the explosive-play threshold. And that pretty much set the tone for the afternoon: methodical, controlled, and quietly effective.
This wasn’t a game where Nix lit up the stat sheet or made jaws drop with raw arm talent. Instead, it was a showcase of mature quarterbacking - the kind that doesn’t always make the highlight shows but wins football games. And for the Broncos, it marked their 10th straight victory.
Ask Nix about the “game manager” label, and he doesn’t bristle. He embraces it.
“It’s become a negative thing and I don’t know why,” Nix said postgame. “The best quarterbacks of all time manage the game at a high level… Some are just more flashy, and I think they don’t have that context or that tag. But it really doesn’t matter because your job as a quarterback: execute the play that’s called, get your team in the end zone and, at the end of the day, have more points than the other team and find a way to win.”
Hard to argue with that when your team hasn’t lost in two and a half months.
A Shift in Style - and It’s Working
Over the past three games, Nix has completed 70 percent of his passes and thrown just one interception. But what really stands out is the patience.
He’s not forcing the issue downfield. He’s reading defenses, taking what’s there, and keeping the offense on schedule.
“I feel like I’ve seen the field very well the last three games,” Nix said. “Just understood where the outlets are, understood where the ball needs to go.”
That patience has helped Denver quietly climb to third in the league in expected points added (EPA) per offensive snap since Week 11. It’s not just about avoiding mistakes - it’s about sustaining drives, controlling the tempo, and wearing down defenses.
And it’s a formula that’s going to be tested again this Sunday against a Green Bay Packers defense that, like Denver’s, specializes in limiting explosive plays. According to TruMedia, the Broncos rank first in opponent explosive play percentage (7.1%), with the Packers close behind at third (8.5%). That’s a big reason both teams are in the thick of the race for the No. 1 seed in their respective conferences.
Deep Shots on Hold - For Now
Earlier in the season, Nix was among the league leaders in deep-ball attempts. Through his first 10 games, he aired it out 48 times on throws of 20-plus air yards - second only to Matthew Stafford.
But the efficiency wasn’t there. Nix completed just 29.2% of those attempts, ranking 27th out of 33 qualified quarterbacks.
Over the last three weeks? Just 10 deep attempts - but he’s hit on five of them.
That’s a significant uptick in accuracy, but more importantly, it shows a quarterback who’s adjusting. He’s not forcing the deep ball if the defense doesn’t give him the look.
He’s checking into better plays, keeping the offense on schedule, and trusting the process.
Courtland Sutton sees it too.
“The understanding of what to expect each week has been something that has allowed us to be able to catch a rhythm,” Sutton said. “The more reps you get with your personnel and the more understanding you get with the offense… it helps you to be able to play with a sense of confidence that you know what you want to get to.”
That rhythm has been key. Denver’s offense isn’t relying on hero-ball anymore.
They’re stringing together long, efficient drives - three of them against the Raiders lasted at least 10 plays and chewed up nearly nine minutes of clock each. That’s demoralizing for a defense.
Discipline Makes a Difference
It’s not just Nix’s decision-making that’s improved - the entire offense has cleaned things up. Since their Week 11 win over Kansas City, the Broncos have been called for just six accepted offensive penalties. That’s a massive shift from the first 10 weeks, when they racked up 40 offensive penalties for 314 yards - the second-most in the league during that span.
Fewer flags have meant more manageable third downs. Denver’s average distance to gain on third down has dropped from 7.5 yards (25th in the NFL) to 6.4 yards (16th) since Week 11. That kind of shift may not grab headlines, but it’s a big reason why the Broncos are able to stay on the field and finish drives.
“The minute you get a holding call… you really paint yourself in a bit of a corner,” head coach Sean Payton said. “That’s the No. 1 thing that comes to mind.”
The Path Forward
As the Broncos prepare for a critical showdown with the Packers, the formula remains the same: stay disciplined, stay patient, and take the game as it comes. Green Bay doesn’t give up many big plays - they’ve allowed just 48 explosive pass plays all season, second-fewest in the NFL - so Nix’s ability to stay within himself and stick to the plan will be crucial.
“Honestly, you go into a game and you hope all of (the play calls) can be explosives,” Nix said. “Sometimes you don’t get the look and you have to minimize the damage… If they cover it up, don’t make it worse.”
That’s not the kind of quote that gets framed on a wall - but it’s the kind of mindset that wins games in December.
Bo Nix isn’t trying to be flashy. He’s trying to win. And right now, that’s exactly what he’s doing.