Renck: Bo Nix has always given the impression that he is serious, so when it popped on the Jumbotron during a fun fan feature that he would be an FBI agent if he weren’t playing football, it came as no surprise. He is not a class clown. He is a coach’s son who is as disciplined as a monk and reserves smiles for victories, not small talk. It is paying off. Through eight games, Nix boasts the best numbers by a Broncos rookie quarterback, including a franchise-record five wins. “That’s cool,” Nix told me. While it would have been considered blasphemous to suggest in April and September, is Nix playing better than every rookie signal-caller, save for Jayden Daniels, including No. 1 pick Caleb Williams?
Keeler: Hands down. Remember that cult TV show, “The Prisoner”? Well, No. 6 is the new No. 2, my friend. Easily. Consider: Nix The Quix has more passing scores this month than either Daniels (who’s been great) or Williams (who’s been very good). Even more impressive: October Bo produced almost as many total scores (nine) as Daniels and Williams have put up combined (10).
Renck: Williams features electric attributes with his arms and legs. But Sunday’s loss at Washington continues to show that he is not infallible. He connected on 10 of 24 passes, the second game he’s finished with a completion percentage of less than 48%. Nix had one game like that — a win over the Jets — but his work this month cannot be ignored. He ranks first among rookie quarterbacks in October in passing touchdowns (seven), rushing touchdowns (two), passing yards (870) and he protects the ball like a family secret. Nix remains a work in progress, but he is already smashing through his ceiling given that he was the last quarterback taken in the first round.
Keeler: We know he can move. We know he’s reasonably accurate throwing on the run. We know the feet are still just a tick-and-a-half too happy, especially on your more standard drops in the pocket. But here’s what you really love at the season’s midway point: Nix’s learning curve is as steep as Kit Carson Peak, and the kid’s still climbing it, still progressing, each week. Oh, there’ll be slips along the way — the next fortnight (at Baltimore, at KC) could be particularly brutal. A rookie’s journey is rarely linear. But as long as Bo looks better at Point B (January) than he did at Point A (August), mission accomplished.
Renck: The more I watch Nix, the more I believe he can be the Broncos’ Jalen Hurts with a more accurate arm. Hurts owns a 39-19 record with a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Coach Sean Payton can continue to lean into Nix’s legs while evolving the passing game. His best day came against the whiny Panthers. We get it. They are terrible, and reality could clobber Nix over the head the next two weeks. But Sunday represented progress with his footwork. He led receivers into yards as he was on time and on target more frequently. Williams has an incredible upside. But at the midway point, Nix has not only exceeded expectations, he has also surpassed Williams’ performance, especially considering that the Chicago standout has much better weapons around him.
Keeler: Since Hurts has the Tush Push, how should we refer to No. 10’s signature scoring plays? Nix Fix? Nix Trix? Bo Flo? (Let’s workshop that one.) The ’24 Panthers reminded me of my beat days with those bad, pre-Marvin Lewis Bengals — blown coverages, players falling down, low comedy every other snap. Travis Hunter may choose to hold out and join Major League Fishing instead of that mess. When it comes to Williams and comparing supporting casts, no rookie signal-caller is doing more with less, resume-wise, than Nix. You know what they call a QB1 who elevates Adam Trautman and Lil’Jordan Humphrey? A Pro Bowler.
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