In his first two games, Bo Nix did not fare well; he completed only 57.3% of his throws for 388 yards, no touchdowns, and four interceptions. He had passing grades of 41.8 and 49.9.
Against the Buccaneers, however, things were different. With 214 yards and 71% of his passes completed, Nix achieved a passing grade of 71.6. He didn’t pass for a touchdown, but he did score on the rush. He completed 10 tries for 52 running yards total, yielding a 72.0 rushing grade.
While Jayden Daniels’ impressive performance on Monday Night Football stole the spotlight, Bo Nix’s first NFL win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went largely unnoticed.
Though Nix’s stats weren’t as eye-catching as Daniels’, the Denver Broncos quarterback showed significant improvement compared to his struggles in the first two weeks of the season, and he might have been the standout rookie if not for Daniels’ performance.
Expectations were low for the Broncos heading into Tampa, especially since the Buccaneers were 5.5-point favorites and missing key defensive players like Vita Vea, Calijah Kancey, and Antoine Winfield Jr.
Despite having one of the weaker rosters, the Broncos managed to remain competitive in their 0-2 start, with both losses coming by just one score. However, the challenge was that Denver’s rookie quarterback hadn’t performed well in either game.
Against the Buccaneers, Nix had a much-improved performance. He earned a passing grade of 71.6, completing 71% of his passes for 214 yards. Although he didn’t throw any touchdowns, he did rush for one, accumulating 52 rushing yards on 10 attempts, which resulted in a 72.0 rushing grade.
Overall, Nix’s positive plays far outnumbered the negatives, with 12 plays graded positively compared to just four negatively. He also made
Nix received significant support from his offensive line, with standout performances from Quinn Meinerz, Alex Palczewski, and Ben Powers, each earning pass-blocking grades of at least 84.0. Garrett Bolles also had a solid performance with a grade of 79.6.
His skill position players contributed as well, with Adam Trautman and Javonte Williams each achieving pass-blocking grades over 80.0, while Michael Burton posted a respectable grade of 76.9.
Overall, Nix’s blockers allowed just nine pressures, and the only sack was negated by an offsides penalty, giving Nix the advantage of a free play.
The rookie quarterback took an average of 2.7 seconds to throw, providing him ample time to effectively dissect the defending NFC South champions.
two standout throws and had only one turnover-worthy play—a pass aimed at his former college teammate, Troy Franklin, on a corner route that was broken up by rookie Tykee Smith.
Following two underwhelming outings to start his career, Bo Nix delivered his best performance yet in the NFL.
As the Broncos prepare to face what appears to be a formidable Jets team this Sunday, the next four games look promising, with matchups against the Raiders, Chargers, Saints, and Panthers—all of whom have displayed weaknesses early in the season.
If Nix continues to perform like he did against the Buccaneers, a Broncos team initially predicted to struggle could become a surprising contender in a competitive AFC.
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