It’s clear what Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix’s problem is right now, but it’s not an easy thing to fix
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix is off to a slow start this season, and there’s a clear reason why.
It’s no secret that Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix isn’t playing his best football right now.
And as a result, the Broncos’ offense isn’t firing on all cylinders just yet.
Nix has failed to top 200 passing yards in three of the Broncos’ five games this season, including a season-low 123 passing yards against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5.
The former Oregon star has been hesitant to pull the trigger at times, which has led to some missed opportunities.
That’s why Broncos head coach Sean Payton says Nix just needs to “let it rip.”
“I’ve said to him, ‘Man, you’re the guy that we wanted here. Let’s go,’” said Payton when asked what’s wrong with Nix’s game this season. “He’s done a ton of things well, but I think there’s a lot that goes into that. In that old TV series ‘The Bear’ where they just say, ‘Let it rip,’ I want him to make sure to, hey, let it rip.”
Nix doesn’t disagree.
“Letting it rip is one of the best things that you can do as a quarterback,” said Nix this week. “At the same time, you’ve got to sort of earn that right. When you do the preparation, you earn the right to react so that you can let it rip.”
It’s clear what Bo Nix’s issue is right now
I think it’s pretty clear what the issue is with Nix right now.
But unfortunately, there’s no easy way to fix it.
Nix isn’t playing loose and free, and it’s almost certainly because of the pressure he’s feeling this fall.
The Broncos are in a Super Bowl or bust season — the window is wide open and anything less than an AFC Championship game appearance is going to feel like a letdown.
On top of the team expectations, there’s also the fact that Nix will be eligible for a contract extension in 2027. It’s not a certainty that Nix will get a big deal. A lot of that decision will depend on how he plays this season.
And it probably doesn’t help that people like Colin Cowherd are saying that Denver shouldn’t extend Nix.
Nix isn’t going to play his best football until he can ignore the outside noise and just play his game. He can’t worry about outcomes or results that haven’t happened yet. Nix isn’t going to play perfect. He could play at an MVP level and still make mistakes. Nix has to, as Payton said, just “let it rip.”
Of course, that’s easier said than done. It’s one of the toughest things to do for any athlete, but it’s especially difficult at the quarterback position.
Things won’t get any easier for Nix and the Broncos as a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football looms this week.
