Al Golden highlights what he likes about Broncos QB Bo Nix, and what the Bengals’ defense needs to defend against
Golden has his eyes on a specific part of Nix’s skillset.
While Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix isn’t the youngest second-year QB in existence at 25 years of age, he’s the passer with the least amount of experience on the Cincinnati Bengals’ schedule for the next month.
That’s an opportunity for Bengals defensive coordinator Al Golden and the young defense he commands, but Cincinnati’s defensive play-caller made sure to give Nix his props regarding a specific aspect of his game.
“I think he looks settled in. He’s a competitor. He’s really good on the move,” Golden told reporters Thursday. “Makes a lot of different throws on the run, and he’s good on the dash pass, he’s good on the boots, the boot game, he can pull the ball any time during the game, so that’s a threat in the scrambles. Obviously, he trusts the guys on the perimeter, he gives them a chance to catch the ball, as he should, [Marvin] Mims, [Troy] Franklin, [Courtland] Sutton all are really good players.”
Bengals need to be on their toes against Bo Nix
Denver has built a solid group of weapons around Nix, who’s set to make his 21st career start Monday night. He’s coming off a loss in which he threw for just 153 yards and completed 56% of his passes against a stingy Los Angeles Chargers defense.
Bo Nix 2025 Stats
- 64.2% completion percentage
- 535 yards (178.3 yards per game)
- Five touchdowns
- Three interceptions
Nix is sixth among QBs this year in play action percentage (31.8%) and has scrambled on three of his 34 drop backs. Only Patrick Mahomes, Kyler Murray, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels, and C.J. Stroud have as many scrambles on play action and more per drop back, per Pro Football Focus.
But he will also give defenses a chance to make a play in such scenarios. While he hasn’t thrown an interception after a play fake yet, he’s taken two sacks on 11 pressures and PFF has charged him with two turnover-worthy throws.
As Cincinnati attacks this week as a 7.5-point underdog, it’ll be imperative for Golden’s unit to take advantage of every opportunity Nix provides. That was the key to starting 2-0, and the turnover pendulum swung the other way last week against the Minnesota Vikings.
Defending against boot legs and throws from outside the pocket will be a key for the Bengals, and capitalizing on the chances those plays can turn sideways can be the difference in the game.
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