Nobody in the NFL compares to Bo Nix when it comes to pretending to be a competent player while delivering some truly dismal performances. Known as the fraud-king of football, Nix has managed to create an illusion of being above average, largely thanks to the innovative offensive strategies and a strong Broncos defense. Unfortunately, it seems inevitable that when Denver’s season takes a nosedive— and it likely will— he’ll be the main culprit behind their collapse.
This season, Nix has achieved a kind of legendary futility. After six games, he averages a mere 4.9 air yards per attempt, and during Thursday Night Football, his longest completion went just 7.6 yards downfield. He couldn’t complete a single pass longer than 10 yards and his passing chart looks more fitting for a casual beach game than for an NFL matchup.
That 4.9 air yard average is the lowest recorded through six games in 20 years of NFL history. In the second half of Thursday’s game, his average pass distance was even behind the line of scrimmage. It’s as if he has mastered the art of a glorified handoff, with no attempts to push the ball downfield, even when the situation calls for it. Instead, he tends to occupy the pocket, opting for easy completions, and if a pass looks anything less than simple, he’ll just throw it away. In those six games, he has thrown the ball away 15 times, positioning him to hit 43 throwaways for the year. But it’s really not just about that number; it’s more about the way he throws it away— stemming from fear and a lack of bravery rather than from pressure or strategic choices.
Still, a vocal group of football fans insists that Nix is an elite quarterback, pointing to a few reasons:
- Broncos fans who are reluctant to face the reality that their team might need to start looking for a new quarterback.
- Fans who’ve been led to believe that something like “QB wins” is an important statistic.
- Diehard Bo Nix fans, reminiscent of the fervent “TuAnon” supporters in Miami.
It’s frustrating to watch, really. The Broncos are a talented team but have to appear as if they’re just decent, all because Nix is proficient at dragging them down. It’s maddening for anyone who truly enjoys football, and that sentiment prompted Ryan Fitzpatrick to criticize Nix’s performance after Thursday’s game.
“Bo Nix is not playing competitively. It’s almost disrespectful to the quarterback position how he’s playing football. First of all, he doesn’t seem to want to throw the ball, which is fine, but he’s opting for short throws and has no trust from his coach. He calls a screen play on 3rd & 8, just runs up and lets the clock keep going. What does he do? He throws it away. Seattle gets the ball back with a timeout. And then in overtime, he has two chances to make something happen. The last one was even a designed run for him, to evade defenders and get a first down! They’re celebrating in the locker room right now, but he’s not playing competitive football.”
Fitzpatrick further expressed that he could only imagine the frustration felt by Sean Payton and Davis Webb as coaches, and how the offensive line must feel blocking for a quarterback who seems unwilling to help them win. It may sound harsh, but it’s a valid point— Nix is undermining the team’s potential for greatness and hurting the earning potential of his teammates.
Currently, the Broncos stand at 4-2, despite having the 28th-ranked passing offense in the league. They allow 20.8 points per game, which ranks 9th, but they only score 19.0, placing them at 26th. This downward trend can be attributed to Nix’s performance, which presents minimal opportunities for the offense to succeed, effectively dragging it down to his level.
Ultimately, Nix’s streak of mediocrity will likely come to a halt this season, possibly in the playoffs. That’s when teams sharpen their skills, opposing quarterbacks rise to the occasion, and everyone needs to step up to compete. We’ve seen other quarterbacks, like Trent Dilfer and Nick Foles, elevate their gameplay in critical moments. Nix, on the other hand, seems content with not even attempting to try.
