Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix has been getting a lot of praise in the last couple of days, and all of it is deserved after Nix’s performance in Denver’s 34-26 win over the Green Bay Packers. Nix has struggled with inconsistency at times, but against the Packers he was surgical, making big throws into tight windows when the Broncos needed them most.
In the moment, it was easy to forget that Nix’s performance is part of his partnership with coach Sean Payton, and it’s been one of the most productive pairings in the NFL so far this year. Payton has worked mostly with two quarterbacks in his NFL coaching career, and he’s had to make adjustments along the way.
“And they couldn’t be more different, just from a personality standpoint,” Payton said to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic on Sunday as he talked about Drew Brees, the quarterback who guided his offense in New Orleans, and Nix.
Payton actually compares them to point guards, which is a comparison that has certainly been used with Nix during his brief career.
“If both of them are point guards, and we’re coming down and we need a shot at the end of the game to win it, if I got Drew Brees, I’m calling a timeout and we’re setting up the play,” Payton said to Warner, who relayed the story on a recent episode of The Athletic’s “Scoop City” podcast. “We’re laying out how it’s going to play out, and he’s going to go out there and direct it, and we’re going to win that way.
“If it’s Bo Nix, I’m not calling timeout. I’m throwing the ball into him, I’m putting it in his hands, and I’m letting him play ball. I’m letting him go because that’s where he’s most comfortable and most effective.”
Nix has definitely enjoyed the freedom, and he understands the logic behind it.
“I appreciate Coach for letting me be my authentic self,” Nix said. “I appreciate him for letting me be competitive, and he hasn’t taken that fire away from me. Together, we are just working really well off each other. He trusts me, and I can tell by the way he is calling it.
“My job is to turn around and protect him and keep his call safe. We talk about play-calling intent a lot as a quarterback room. Take the intent, and what does he want on this play? At the end of the day, you have to protect it.”
To Payton, it’s important to remember that Nix is just getting started, even though it certainly didn’t look like that on the field on Sunday against Green Bay.
(He is) early in the process and improving. The thing about him is he loves playing, and so it’s contagious, and that’s a really good trait for a player in his position, and his teammates feel that.”