Of the three rookie quarterbacks making their NFL debuts, Bo Nix went into Sunday surrounded by most questions.
He led a late touchdown drive to keep the Denver Broncos afloat, but otherwise provided few encouraging answers in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Nix largely struggled while leading a stagnant Denver offense. He found himself under heavy pressure from an aggressive Seahawks defense intent on flustering the rookie quarterback. He responded repeatedly with ill-advised downfield throws that resulted incompletions and a pair of interceptions. Two Broncos drives that started in the Seahawks red zone ended with field goals.
Nix’s second interception prompted an audible “oh no” from CBS’ Adam Archulta, who could see that the pass was destined for a turnover before Tariq Woolen picked it off.
That interception stunted a late comeback attempt as the Seahawks carried a 26-13 lead. When the day was done, Nix completed 26 of 42 attempts for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He averaged three yards per attempt. He added 35 yards on five carries, including a late touchdown run that cut Denver’s deficit to one touchdown before the Seahawks ran out the clock.
Missed early opportunities for Broncos
Denver’s offense was spotted a head start when an Alex Singleton interception of Geno Smith set the Broncos offense up at the Seattle 20-yard line on its first possession of the game. The Broncos gained three yards and settled for a field goal for a 3-0 lead.
The Broncos followed up with three-and-outs on their next two drives before threatening to score a touchdown for the first time. But Nix threw a downfield pass off his back foot into double coverage in the end zone that Julian Love intercepted.
Denver’s next possession ended with a three and out before the Broncos were spotted another possession that started in the red zone — this time at the 9-yard line following a muffed Seattle punt return.
The Broncos lost two yards on the possession and kicked a field goal. Nix was flagged for a false start on first down after leaving his position under center before the snap, putting the Broncos at first-and-goal from the 14. After two runs, Nix threw into double coverage in the end zone again. This time, his pass targeting Courtland Sutton fell incomplete.
Denver finally found the end zone on Nix’s late touchdown run in the fourth quarter. But it was too little, too late as the Seahawks ran out the clock on the ensuing possession.
Source Agencies
