The Broncos got what they needed in Los Angeles: a 23-17 road win over the Chargers, a clean rebound after last week’s ugly loss to the 49ers. But the victory didn’t exactly wash away the concerns hanging over Bo Nix.
Denver’s offense looked shaky again, and Nix’s line told the story. He finished 16 of 27 for 123 yards with one touchdown, a stat sheet that did little to quiet the noise around his play. The Broncos won, but the performance left plenty of room for criticism.
That’s why Colin Cowherd went straight at the bigger question on Monday: whether Denver should be treating Nix like its long-term answer at quarterback.
"I watched Bo Nix, and Sean Payton took over play-calling duties, and they still punted on their first series, like this is what it is," Cowherd said. "Against the abysmal LA Chargers, they had less total yards.
Right now, their total offense is below the Miami Dolphins. They were 1 for 12 on third down, 3.9 yards a play ...
This offense should not be below the Miami Dolphins. So, you can’t extend Bo Nix.
You let it play out."
He wasn’t done there.
"I mean, they won, but right now his first-quarter passer rating is lower than Cam Ward. And everybody thinks Cam Ward is a bust," Cowherd added.
"You can’t publicly berate him. You want a confident quarterback.
So let it play out. The Chargers are a mess.
Raiders aren’t there yet. Denver, very, very viable chance to be a wild card team ...
Guys struggle with this. It’s okay to acknowledge [that] we need a new flight plan.
It’s okay to acknowledge with one of your kids. They’re not going to be a CEO of Nvidia.”
Nix arrived in Denver as a first-round pick in 2024 out of Oregon, and his rookie year looked promising. He completed 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns against 12 interceptions, while also adding 430 rushing yards and four rushing scores. Last season, he helped push the Broncos to a 14-3 record and the top seed in the AFC.
This year, though, the production has slipped. Through five games, Nix is completing only 59.9% of his passes for 942 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, with just 35 rushing yards. His passer rating sits at 80.9, which places him near the bottom of the starting quarterback group.
That slide matters even more because Denver has built around him. The team traded for Jaylen Waddle, drafted RJ Harvey and Troy Franklin, and put together one of the league’s better offensive lines.
Nix remains under contract through the 2027 season, with a fifth-year team option for 2028. Still, any talk of a major extension has to wait. For now, he has to show he can stack up strong outings often enough to prove he belongs in the league’s top tier of quarterbacks.
In Other News...
Broncos Fans Need To Watch Seattles Injury Report Closely Thursday
The Seahawks did not practice Monday, but they still put out an estimated injury report for Thursday Night Football against the Broncos, and that kind of early-week snapshot can tell you plenty about how Seattle is lining up for a short-week matchup. For Denver fans, it is the sort of document worth reading closely, especially with players working back into the picture and others expected to be available despite the abbreviated preparation.
Irv Charles is aiming to make his debut after a stint on injured reserve, while George Holani is expected to play, giving Seattle a few more offensive options to monitor before kickoff. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Zach Charbonnet also showed up on the report with injury designations, which leaves the Seahawks with some uncertainty as they head toward Thursday and keeps the Broncos guessing a little longer. [Read more 🡒]
Sean Payton Sends Mixed Message On Broncos Offense After Big Change
After the Broncos made a notable change in how the offense was being called, Sean Payton spent Monday trying to strike the right balance between reassurance and honesty. He said the group handled the adjustment well, and he singled out Webb for the work put in during the week, which suggested there was at least some belief the process is settling in.
Payton also made clear the bigger picture is still far from clean. Even with the response to the change, he acknowledged the Broncos are not doing a lot of things well through five games, a candid assessment that leaves the offense with more questions than answers as the team tries to sort out what actually moved the needle. [Read more 🡒]
Broncos O-Line Pressure Is Building After Another Worrying Start
The Broncos are 3-2, but the record has not quieted the concern around an offensive line that has looked shaky far too often in the seasons first five games. The trouble has centered on the interior, where left guard and center have become the spots drawing the most scrutiny as Denver tries to get both its run game and pass protection on steadier ground.
Ben Powers and Luke Wattenberg have not given the unit the consistency the Broncos need, and the pressure is starting to build for a change. Alex Palczewski and Alex Forsyth are at least part of the conversation now as Denver looks for a combination that can hold up better up front and help an offense that still feels like it is searching for its best version. [Read more 🡒]