Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton expressed general satisfaction with rookie quarterback Bo Nix’s performance after reviewing the film of the Broncos’ hard-fought 26-20 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
However, Payton stressed that it’s the team surrounding Nix that needs to elevate their play.
“I think when I look at this offensively, we have to be better with him, and we will be,” said Payton on Monday.
Nix, showing resilience, completed 26 of 42 passes for 138 yards. While the rookie did not throw for a touchdown and was intercepted twice, he provided a spark with a 4-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, trimming the Seahawks’ lead to just six points.
A surprising and concerning statistic for Payton was that Nix led the Broncos’ ground game, racking up 35 rushing yards. This underscored the underperformance of running backs Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin, who combined for a mere 50 yards on 18 carries.
Payton’s game plan initially aimed for an effective ground attack to keep Nix in manageable situations. But when the running game faltered and the team fell behind in the second half, Nix was compelled to throw more against a formidable Seattle secondary.
“I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again. One of the key things that was important in this game is winning the battle of the running game, and we couldn’t do that,” Payton emphasized. “We had problems and the inefficiency on the first and second chances was one of the keys to the win and we couldn’t do that.”
Out of Nix’s overall 138 passing yards, 54 were amassed during the Broncos’ final two drives when they were trailing by 13 points. One of these drives ended with an interception, while the other concluded with Nix’s impressive rushing touchdown.
The Broncos’ second-year coach didn’t shy away from criticism, pointing out that the pass protection and run blocking were subpar, and there were multiple missed opportunities in identifying running lanes. Additionally, Nix’s efforts were hindered by several drops from his receivers.
“There might be a game where we’re going to throw the ball 40 times, but not too many. A lot of times, time of possession and runs in the fourth quarter, if you’re up 10 or more, can swing the ball a little bit in your favor, but this is the game where it’s the other way around,” Payton reflected. “You have to throw the ball to get back in the game at the end.”
On the bright side, the Broncos came out of the game largely healthy. Payton noted that X-rays and an MRI for a bruise on offensive tackle Garett Bolles‘ leg returned negative, providing a sigh of relief.
Passion and determination will drive the Broncos as they look to refine their strategies and support their talented rookie quarterback in the games to come. The road ahead may be challenging, but with Payton at the helm, Denver is poised to tackle it head-on.
