Coach Sean Payton raged at Vance Joseph on the sideline in Buffalo.
But even after the Bills stampeded the Broncos in the second half of a 31-7 loss at Highmark Stadium on Sunday, the 35,000-foot view still tells us the defense is not Denver’s problem.
If the Broncos are going to take the next step in the AFC, they will go only as far as Bo Nix takes them.
That means they should be a Super Bowl contender next season. Seriously.
No more talking up a Broncos quarterback like Paul McCartney only to see Pauly Shore show up at training camp.
Nix is the guy. And this is only the beginning.
Which prompts the next question: Is he good enough to become a top-15 quarterback in his second season and lead this team deeper into the playoffs?
The answer is yes. It comes with an asterisk because the Broncos need to surround him with more weapons, but that was Monday’s take.
What we know about his rookie year is this: After a clunky start, Nix delivered 25 touchdown passes and eight interceptions with a 68.5 completion percentage over the final 12 games, counting Sunday.
What we know about the person is even more encouraging. He is a leader, a competitor and a tough guy. The latter was made clear Monday when Nix revealed he played through three fractures in his back in a November win over the Raiders.
What’s next for Nix? The answer to that will determine whether the Broncos sneak into the playoffs a year from now or emerge as a legitimate threat to the Chiefs, Bills and Ravens.
First, everything about Nix tells you he will improve. He embraces the responsibility of the job. He first earned his teammates’ respect with his work ethic and performance. He takes no shortcuts. As the son of a coach, he loves the process as much as the outcome — a trait shared by all franchise quarterbacks.
And now he has a chance to exhale.
Nix just completed the longest year of his life and never wavered. He went from a marathon season at Oregon to training for the combine to the NFL draft to rookie mini-camp and OTAs without a break.
This offseason will be different. He knows he is the starter and can narrow his focus on the nuances of the position.
“I enjoy the film study and the self-scouting and the stuff I can jump ahead on next year,” Nix said. “I am trying to be a little more ahead now that I know what to expect.”
Quarterbacks coach Davis Webb will present him with a five-page sheet on what he needs to work on. He also will suggest that Nix not digest it over dinner, allowing his mind and body to decompress over the next few months.
“You know, go to an Avs game,” Webb said.
That Webb wants him to throttle back drives home why Nix’s future remains so bright. He gets it. He wants to be better, holds himself to the highest of standards.
When he checks his iPad, he will see areas where he needs to improve. It starts with pushing the ball down the field. Some of this is obviously connected to adding another standout receiver, but these numbers cannot be dismissed. Per Next Gen Stats, Nix ranked 23rd in air yards per attempt (7.7) and 26th in tight window throws (13.1%).
Payton, and by proxy Nix, can fall in love with the horizontal attack. Growth requires more efficiency in the middle of the field (Which is why they need a dynamic tight end). The tight window metric explains that Nix was not prone to forcing the ball into coverage. But, as he matures as a passer, learning to assess risk vs. reward, he will throw more guys open, trusting the routes and timing. He already makes good decisions as evidenced by his 26 sacks in 18 games.
Critics of Nix — and they remain — scramble to message boards or talk shows to suggest his flaws doom the quarterback to a low ceiling. Stop this nonsense. Can we see what his sophomore year looks like before typecasting him? He just delivered one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history. Maybe give him the benefit of the doubt?
Nobody knows exactly what Nix will do, but all evidence suggests continued improvement.
Nix will continue to figure it out. He will polish his mechanics, recognizing that when his feet are right very little goes wrong. He will have more playmakers — Payton is smart enough to know he needs to add a tight end and running back — and the coach will understand him better.
Payton admitted that Nix’s athleticism surprised him. Not now. He knows what he has.
So, Nix’s evolution must be layered. With Nix’s legs, there needs to be shades of Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
It is obvious that option was scaled back for a month as Nix managed his back pain. But a healthy Nix must be a dual threat. That is the special sauce that can accelerate his improvement, make him an uppercrust quarterback and the Broncos a Super Bowl contender.
Too much, too soon?
Given what we know about the quarterback, there is every reason to Bo-lieve it can happen.
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