DENVER — Ahead of the Broncos' Week 8 matchup with the Carolina Panthers, rookie quarterback Bo Nix said he still views it as a positive to be labeled a dual-threat quarterback.
That is, with one necessary caveat.
"I think it's a compliment if they give you credit [for] throwing the ball, too," Nix said with a laugh.
After Nix's performance in a 28-14 win over the Panthers, that credit is sure to come.
In his best statistical performance as a pro, Nix completed 28-of-37 passes for 284 yards, three touchdowns and a 124.2 quarterback rating. He also added a touchdown on the ground via a goal-line lunge.
With the performance, Nix became the first quarterback in franchise history to throw for three touchdowns and add a score on the ground without throwing an interception, according to NFL Research. The Broncos are also now 5-0 in games in which Nix does not throw an interception.
Nix largely built his stat line in the first half, as he completed 21-of-27 passes for 220 yards and a pair of touchdowns before the break. With the game firmly in hand, Nix attempted just 10 passes in the second half.
"I think we have it in our arsenal," Nix said Sunday of Denver's passing performance. "We just have to go out there and execute it like we did. I thought we did a really good job of starting fast and doing it early. We caught a good rhythm there. Everybody on the field was making plays. Receivers, tight ends, running backs, it did not matter. The ball was being dispersed to a lot of positions,and I thought that was good. It is tough on a defense when we are getting all those guys the ball."
After the Broncos fell behind 7-0, Nix led three consecutive touchdown drives — including a 92-yarder to put the Broncos ahead for good — to build a 21-7 halftime lead. Nix completed three passes of at least 23 yards, including a pair of 37-yard gains, during the first half of Sunday's win.
"For a rookie quarterback, I think all of these are steps," Head Coach Sean Payton said. "Confidence steps. We've seen it. The key is — and I've said it — the key is around him. Are we good enough at these other positions around him? That's what we're constantly looking [at]. We have to paint the picture, and when we do that, we'll have success. We'll move the ball. Today we were much better on third down, better in the red zone."
Nix set career highs in completions (28), completion percentage (75.7), passing yards, passing touchdowns, passing yards per attempt and passer rating, and he now leads all NFL rookies with 12 touchdowns. Nix joins Dak Prescott, Robert Griffin III and Cam Newton as the only rookies since 1970 to record at least eight passing touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns over his first eight games, according to NFL Research.
The new franchise leader in wins by a rookie quarterback, Nix has thrown eight touchdowns and just one interception while posting a 94.2 rating since Week 3. Denver is 5-1 during the stretch after starting the season 0-2.
Courtland Sutton was Nix's most consistent threat on Sunday, as he managed to reach the 100-yard mark for the first time since Week 2 of the 2022 season. A Broncos receiver had not posted a 100-yard outing since Week 2 of 2023 against the Commanders.
"It was huge, I thought he came to play today," Nix said of Sutton. "He had several great opportunities, made the most of them and he was a good target for us today. It started early in the game, and then he was just kind of feeling it. I thought that was a good part of our game plan. We really wanted to get him involved, and I thought it was really good. I feel bad for the people that sat him for fantasy this week."
The way Nix played, some may have wished they started him on their fantasy team, as well.
After the game, though, Nix did not call Sunday's game any more rewarding because of his passing totals — and he didn't rank success through the air as more important than finding it on the ground.
"It is more satisfying to win," Nix said. "So whatever that means from a quarterback. I would go out there and throw for zero yards, hand it off every time, win the game — and I will be the happiest guy in the locker room. That is not being complacent. That is having perspective that this is a tough league. It is not always easy to go out there and throw for a lot of yards. It is also not easy to go out there and run for a lot of yards. You just have to find a way to get yards. In our case today, we ultimately had success, were able to get points early and hold on there at the end. We are going to have to continue to find ways to do that, and I am willing to do whatever."
On Sunday, that meant delivering through the air — and Nix did that in a big way.
