Bo Nix is starting to silence the doubters - and he’s doing it with precision, poise, and a growing pile of wins.
Just over a month ago, there were whispers - even from national voices - questioning whether the Denver Broncos might be in the market for yet another quarterback in 2026. But since then, Nix has responded the only way a true franchise quarterback can: by stacking strong performances and leading his team to critical victories.
Since Week 10, when those conversations hit a fever pitch, Nix has delivered arguably his best stretch of football all season. He’s thrown for 295 yards against the Chiefs, 321 against Washington, 212 in a rematch with the Raiders, and 302 against the Packers.
That’s four straight wins, five passing touchdowns, one on the ground, and just a single interception. More importantly, he’s looked in command - calm under pressure, efficient with the football, and increasingly confident in Sean Payton’s system.
After Denver’s 34-26 win over Green Bay, even some of the loudest critics started changing their tune. “You may want to stop doubting the Denver Broncos,” said Colin Cowherd, who just weeks earlier had floated the idea of Denver drafting another quarterback.
“Bo Nix and Sean Payton carved up this Green Bay defense. He’s athletic, he’s clever, he’s deceptive, he doesn’t get sacked...
He reminds me of a right-handed Steve Young.”
That’s high praise - and while comparisons to Hall of Famers should always be taken with a grain of salt, there’s no denying that Nix is showing the kind of dual-threat savvy and pocket awareness that’s rare for a first-year starter. He’s not just managing games - he’s dictating them.
Quarterback coach and analyst Tim Jenkins didn’t mince words either: Denver has found its franchise quarterback. And looking at the revolving door of QBs the Broncos have cycled through since 2015, that statement carries weight. Nix is giving this team something it hasn’t had since the Peyton Manning era - stability and belief at the most important position in football.
If the Broncos do make the playoffs this season - which they’re now well-positioned to do - it’ll mark their second postseason trip in two years with Nix under center. The last time Denver saw back-to-back playoff berths? That would be 2014 and 2015, when Manning was still in orange and blue.
Now, the Broncos head into a massive matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday. A win could secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC and their first AFC West title in a decade. It’s a high-stakes game, but given how Nix has been playing, Denver fans have every reason to feel optimistic.
This isn’t just a rookie finding his footing anymore - it’s a quarterback stepping into the spotlight and making a case that he belongs there.