SEATTLE — It was not the profession debut Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix both envisioned or needed Sunday, however Denver coach Sean Payton mentioned Nix did not get almost sufficient assist from his teammates or his coaches to make it any higher.
Nix, who was the No. 12 choose in April’s draft by the Broncos, completed the 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Area at 26-of-42 passing for 138 yards and two interceptions. He additionally was sacked twice and had at the least two different potential picks dropped by Seattle defenders.
However Payton mentioned there was loads of blame to go round for the Broncos.
“He gave us an opportunity,” Payton mentioned. “I imply, our safety was common, at greatest. … At one level within the recreation, I talked to the receivers, ‘Hey, let’s go.’ I do not know what number of drops we had, however man, let’s assist this man.”
Payton, who had mentioned all through the preseason a younger quarterback’s greatest “allies” had been run recreation and protection, was notably troubled by the Broncos’ run recreation Sunday. On paper, the 25 carries for 99 yards wasn’t too unhealthy. However take away Nix’s 35 yards dashing on scrambles (together with a 4-yard run for Denver’s solely offensive landing within the recreation) and the Broncos ran the ball 20 occasions for 64 yards on the opposite carries.
The highest two Broncos operating backs — Javonte Williams and Jaleel McLaughlin — had eight carries for 23 yards and 10 carries for 27 yards, respectively. And rookie again Audric Estime fumbled on one among his two carries, and the Broncos recovered.
“For any quarterback taking part in, we have to be simpler operating the soccer,” Payton mentioned. “Not almost ok … Us as coaches, we have to guage the run plan and why it wasn’t as efficient as we might like … It will be onerous taking part in quarterback, interval, if that is one of the best we are able to do operating the ball.”
The consequence was Nix’s 42 go makes an attempt had been greater than Payton mentioned he needed the rookie to have within the recreation. General, the Broncos completed with 231 web yards on offense and had been 5-of-18 on third down.
Payton even tossed himself on the pile: “I’ve to be higher.”
“It was a problem. It was a tricky day. They did not make it simple on us, for certain,” Nix mentioned. ” It is robust. You have to give them credit score, however we battled, we fought.”
Requested if he was nervous for his first NFL begin, Nix paused briefly and mentioned: “Uh, no.”
All of it got here on a day when the Broncos’ protection had an interception by linebacker Alex Singleton on Seattle’s second play from scrimmage, pressured two safeties within the first half and recovered a fumble on particular groups deep in Seahawks territory.
Nevertheless, the Broncos’ offense turned the 2 turnovers into simply two discipline targets regardless of having the ball on the Seahawks’ 20-yard line and the 9-yard line to start out these drives. The Broncos nonetheless led 10-9 at halftime.
Seattle rushed for 90 yards within the second half because the Seahawks cobbled collectively two landing drives for a 26-13 lead deep into the fourth quarter.
The Broncos, on the 4-yard scramble by Nix, narrowed the deficit to 26-20 with 2 minutes, 9 seconds to play, however they didn’t get the ball again.
Payton, who had named Nix the starter on Aug. 21, mentioned he believed Nix was prepared moving into and that the Broncos’ ultimate drive was proof the rookie was nonetheless engaged at recreation’s finish regardless of the struggles.
“He appeared calm, poised. I felt he was very comfy and prepared,” Payton mentioned. “We have now to be higher round him. We have got to be higher. I’ve bought to be higher.”
Nix supplied his perspective.
“As poorly as we did, I feel we gave ourselves an opportunity to win on the finish,” he mentioned. “Our protection and particular groups performed unbelievable. They actually saved us within the recreation. They gave us hope, they battled … The balls are on the bottom; you have to consider how one can change it … You are not going to hit all of them.”
Broncos broad receiver Josh Reynolds mentioned he was impressed with Nix’s efforts.
“I really like that,” he mentioned. “A quarterback that continued to combat.”
Nix is the primary rookie captain for the Broncos since Corridor of Fame operating again Floyd Little in 1967. And Nix was the primary rookie quarterback to start out as season opener for Denver since John Elway in 1983.
His job does not get a lot simpler in Week 2, nevertheless, given the Broncos’ dwelling opener subsequent Sunday is towards the Pittsburgh Steelers, who sacked Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins twice and intercepted him a few occasions of their opening win.
