Bo Watch: Denver rookie QB holds his own against Super Bowl champs … only to lose in heartbreak
In Bo Nix’s first game in Arrowhead, the rookie QB had perhaps his best half of the season and put the Broncos on the doorstep of victory -- only to lose to the Chiefs in heartbreaking fashion.
Stat line: 22-for-30 passing for 215 yards, two touchdowns; two carries, minus-2 yards
Highlight: Bo Nix’s 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton was a thing of beauty. Sutton did a fantastic job creating separation from cornerback Trent McDuffie before Nix placed the ball perfectly in the end zone to give Denver a 14-3 lead in the second quarter. Unfortunately for the Broncos, that was the last time they’d score the rest of the afternoon.
Lowlight: Nix took two bad sacks on Sunday. In the first quarter, he should have thrown the ball away but instead, he was sacked by defensive back Nazeeh Johnson, who rushed freely into the backfield for a 17-yard loss. In the third, Nix retreated before being sacked for a 16-yard loss by linebacker Nick Bolton. Both were costly.
Analysis: In Nix’s first game in Arrowhead, the former Oregon star held his own. He had perhaps his best half of the season, completing 14 of 20 passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. He had full command of the offense, while head coach Sean Payton did a solid job at dialing up the plays. Denver’s ability to run the ball helped open things up in the passing game. However, Nix didn’t have the same success in the second half. The Chiefs increased the pressure, making Nix unsettled in the pocket. Still, the rookie drove Denver to what should have been a game-winning field goal. Instead, heartbreak.
Unsung Hero
EDGE Jonathon Cooper: It didn’t take long for Cooper to show the Broncos that the four-year contract extension was worth it. He recorded his 6.5 sacks of the season after taking down Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes in the second quarter. Cooper, Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen and John Franklin-Myers did a solid job of creating pressure on the 2-time MVP throughout the afternoon — something that’s hard to do.
Goat of the game
WR Courtland Sutton: The veteran wideout cost the Broncos three points during the closing seconds of the first half. Nix fired a third-down pass over the middle to Sutton but he failed to secure the ball. Two plays before that, he was flagged for offside. The end result: Kicker Wil Lutz’s 60-yard field goal attempt fell well short.
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