The Denver Broncos have won in a lot of different ways this year, and most of the focus has been on their hair-raising comebacks. Against the Las Vegas Raiders last week, though, the Broncos did something very different, although it didn’t get noticed a lot because this was considered a lesser game that was a total mismatch.
A quick look at Bo Nix’s stats reveal what happened. Nix completed 31 throws, and none went for more than 15 yards. The Denver quarterback effectively became a game manager, and he doesn’t mind being called that at all, according to Nick Kosmider of The Athletic.
“It’s become a negative thing and I don’t know why,” the second-year quarterback said of the “game manager” label. “The best quarterbacks of all time manage the game at a high level. I think the biggest difference is, when the time comes down to it, they just find ways to make either an explosive or make another play. So, all the good ones, all the great ones that win, they manage the game at a high level. Some are just more flashy, and I think they don’t have that context or that tag. But it really doesn’t matter because your job as a quarterback: execute the play that’s called, get your team in the end zone and, at the end of the day, have more points than the other team and find a way to win. That’s what we’re managing to do. Ten (consecutive) wins is a long time (to win).”
Nix has completed passes at a 70 percent rate, with just one interception in the last three games, which has allowed the Broncos offense to rank third in EPA during that span.
“I feel like I’ve seen the field very well the last three games,” Nix said. “Just understood where the outlets are, understood where the ball needs to go.”
The challenge against Green Bay will be very different, though. The Packer defense also ranks high when it comes to preventing explosive plays, and it’s one of the reasons these two teams are ranked so high.
This emphasis on efficiency has also helped the Broncos reduce their penalties, which is part of the logic behind employing it. The Denver offense has only been flagged three times in the team’s last two games, which is very different from the team’s past ranking with the second-highest penalty total in the league.
“It helps when it comes to third down,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “You’re in a much more manageable position. The minute you get a holding call, if you look at the statistics of converting on that drive, you really paint yourself in a bit of a corner. That’s the No. 1 thing that comes to mind.”