The Denver Broncos have had more than their share of doubters during their remarkable 11-game win streak, and the biggest were the ones who questioned quarterback Bo Nix. Nix’s inconsistent stretches have been an ongoing topic of conversation for months now, but in yesterday’s 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers, Nix answered their questions on the field.
Nix played what was easily his most complete game of the season, throwing for 302 yards while going 23-for-34. Those four touchdown passes were the guadiest stat, but what mattered was that Nix was steady and accurate throughout the game, which is something his critics have wondered about for months now.
The Broncos are now the team to beat in the AFC with three games left, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN, as Denver clinched a playoff game and took control of the race for the top seed.
There were some warts in yesterday’s performance, though, as Legwold pointed out. The Denver defense surrendered six plays that went for 20 yards or more, and the first sack came late in the third quarter. Usually it’s the defense that’s waiting for Nix to step up, but yesterday it was the other way around.
There’s more work to do, however. The Los Angeles Chargers proved they’re capable of doing more than hanging around as they beat the Kansas City Chiefs yesterday, 16-13. The 10-4 Chargers will meet the Broncos in the final game of the season, and Denver also has the suddenly-formidable Jacksonville Jaguars coming to town next Sunday.
That Christmas night game against the Chiefs doesn’t look nearly as formidable, though, especially considering that the Broncos will be facing quarterback Gardner Minshew instead of Patrick Mahomes. This shouldn’t be marked down as an automatic win, however, given the way the Broncos have played down to the level of their competition at times this year.
In some ways, coach Sean Payton will face one of his toughest challenges this week. Yesterday’s contest against the Packers was a marquee game that had a playoff feel, and those who suggested it might be a Super Bowl preview might not be far off. It will be tough for Payton to keep his team from coming out flat against Jacksonville, and it’s simply a fact of life that all winning streaks come to an end sooner or later.
Don’t bet against the Broncos, though. They’ve been coming through all season long, and anyone who thinks they won’t going forward hasn’t been watching what typically happens in Denver when the Broncos face adversity.