On the heels of a loss that could have been debilitating, the Denver Broncos bounced back with gusto, defeating the Atlanta Falcons 38-6. Instead of allowing that last-second loss in Kansas City hang with them, the Broncos showed in Sunday’s resounding victory that they’d moved on from it days ago.

Perhaps Bo Nix is Denver’s football priest most responsible for exorcising that particular demon. The rookie quarterback had a coming-out party against the Falcons, passing for 307 yards and four touchdowns, finishing with a passer rating of 145.0.

Although it seemed that Jayden Daniels may have had Offensive Rookie of the Year sewn up, Nix’s rapid rise has put him on a level with Washington’s No. 2 overall quarterback. Fittingly, veteran wideout Courtland Sutton broke the ice on Nix’s Broncos teammates campaigning for the NFL at large to start including Nix equally in those conversations.

“I made the comment, but the dude should be in conversations for rookie of the year,” Sutton said post-game. “There should be no hesitation.”

It’s as if Nix woke up on Sunday morning with the perfect knowledge that today was going to belong to him and the Broncos. At least, that’s what he said when he was asked when he had the realization that it was going to be one of those days.

“When I woke up this morning,” Nix said from the podium post-game. “Sometimes you just wake up ready to roll.”

Nix is grateful for his opportunity, crediting the Broncos for believing in him and drafting him to be this team’s future franchise quarterback. Such business is never a sure thing, and yet, if Sunday’s romp revealed anything, it’s perhaps that the future is now.

“Each day you go out there on the field and get to play for a team and a franchise that believes in you and an organization that does so much for you,” Nix said. “It is a blessing to be in my spot and my shoes. Each day is a new opportunity and a new time to go out there and play in front of a home crowd that showed up today. It was a lot of fun.”

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Nix looked like he was having fun out there, notching the first 300-yard passing game of his career and joining Peyton Manning as the only NFL quarterbacks to pass for 200-plus yards and at least two touchdowns in four straight home games. Nix has already joined John Elway in the Broncos’ record books, and he can now add Manning to the distinguished milestones reached so early in his NFL career.

Nix’s veteran teammates took notice of these accolades and distinctions long ago. After all, he’s the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month and of the Week. Something tells me he’ll be the Rookie of Week 11, too.

“I think he’s incredible. Bo is my dog, and he leads his team,” left tackle Garett Bolles said. “He leads this offense. We go as far as his play… He’s a deadly quarterback in this league.”

At 6-5, the Broncos can feel something happening. With six games to go, this team seems to be just hitting its stride, so the key moving forward will be keeping their eye on the prize.

Nix revealed a message that Broncos safety P.J. Locke shared with the team in the locker room post-game. The Broncos aren’t satisfied with being close, or nearly handing the Kansas City Chiefs what would have been their first loss of the season. This team is ready to get over the hump.

I think we are all excited. We know the opportunity we have,” Nix said. “We beat a good football team today. It just proves that we can belong on this stage against teams that we want to go out there and beat. We are going to have to continue playing like we did today. We know it is there. P.J. said it in the locker room. We are tired of being close. We do not want to be close anymore. We have to make steps to get over that line. I thought today was a good step.”

Indeed. Call it a quantum leap in the right direction. Broncos head coach Sean Payton called a phenomenal game against his former NFC South foes, and has to be pleased as punch with Nix’s ascendance.

He may be a rookie, but Nix keeps the Broncos on schedule, avoids the negative plays, and is absolutely stubborn about turning the ball over. That might hurt Tums’ stock, but it helps the digestion of coaches like Payton, and helps them sleep at night.

“I thought he played well. You feel like you’re in good hands,” Payton said of Nix. “He’s smart with the football. He makes plays with his feet. A lot of times you’re calling plays for certain looks [and] the looks aren’t there. He has that ability to create and all the while protect the football. I thought he played really well.”

The way Nix carries himself, the way he leads, and his comportment on the field belies his rookie standing. His teammates have to remind themselves that their 24-year-old quarterback is, in fact, a rookie.

“We really didn’t feel like we had a rookie,” wide receiver Marvin Mims Jr. said post-game. “He just feels like an experienced veteran, and he’s been on the field every play. With his elusiveness and being able to extend plays, he doesn’t quit on any plays. He’s Bo Nix. He wants to make the most of every play so it’s a lot of fun playing with him.”

For what it’s worth, Nix has the most touchdowns among NFL rookie quarterbacks — 14 passing, four rushing, and one receiving. Plus, he has a history of winning rookie accolades, as the SEC’s Rookie of the Year his freshman season at Auburn.

Past is prologue, so they say.

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Stick here for live updates and analysis as Denver host the Falcons at Empower Field at Mile High.

Live updates

Pre-game updates

Scouting report (10:55 a.m.): Check out how the Broncos match up with the Falcons in Ryan McFadden’s scouting report.

Game predictions

Parker Gabriel, beat writer: Broncos 28, Falcons 27

This feels like a sneaky-tough matchup given the way Kirk Cousins has been playing, the diversity of Atlanta’s offense and the group’s terrific run game. It’s the kind of challenge that can test even the best secondaries. The brain keeps saying “upset alert.” Sometimes you go instead with the gut. And the gut says Sean Payton’s team is ready for this challenge.

Ryan McFadden, beat writer: Broncos 24, Falcons 21

Inside the locker room in Kansas City, the Broncos were frustrated by letting a victory over the defending champs slip through their fingers. Expect Denver to carry that aggression over to Sunday’s matchup against Atlanta. Bo Nix will take advantage of Atlanta’s inability to generate pressure and have a strong performance at home.

Troy Renck, columnist: Broncos 23, Falcons 20

The Broncos insist this team is different. Time to prove it. If they are a playoff team, they need to win at home against a good team. Bo Nix will join Peyton Manning as the only rookie QB to pass for at least 200 yards and multiple touchdowns in four straight home games. And Denver will benefit as slumping Younghoe Koo misses a key kick, staying on brand since Week 4 (8 for 15).

Sean Keeler, columnist: Broncos 21, Falcons 20

Only two NFL defenses have given up more rush attempts per game to opposing QBs than the Falcons (6.3), and only five are allowing more QB rush yards per tilt than ATL (28.6). Good defense (Broncos) vs. good offense (Atlanta) + meh offense (Broncos) vs. meh defense (Atlanta) means special teams could swing this one. Wil Lutz for the win, kids. What could possibly go wrong?

Broncos-Falcons NFL Week 11: Must-reads

Former Broncos safety Justin Simmons’ return to Denver sparks memories from those he impacted in eight seasons with team

Despite being more than 1,400 miles away, Justin Simmons still considers Denver home. Black and red are his new uniform colors, but he continues to bleed orange and blue.

Simmons’ football career took a different path last spring when the Pro Bowl safety was released from the Broncos in March. The franchise’s longest-tenured player at that time was left to find a new team. He found it in Atlanta, signing a one-year deal with the Falcons in August.

Months after the move, he is still learning to adjust to life away from the Mile High City. Read Ryan McFadden’s full story.

Broncos, QB Bo Nix have engineered major turnaround on third downs over past three games

Over the past three weeks, though, the money down has been an entirely different story for Sean Payton’s offense.

In a win against Carolina (11 of 17) and losses at Baltimore (6 of 14) and Kansas City (7 of 13), the Broncos offense was far from perfect, but really good on third down.

The team over that stretch has converted 24 of 44 chances for a rate of 54.5%. Read Parker Gabriel’s full story.

Renck: Broncos cannot afford to move on from left tackle Garett Bolles

Justin Simmons’ exit left Garett Bolles as the longest-tenured Bronco. His resume is measured in accomplishments — Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors, community work — and quarterbacks. Bolles has played with all 14 starters since Peyton Manning retired. He pledged his loyalty to each of them.

Bolles will be a free agent at season’s end, his eighth with the Broncos. He faces an uncertain future in Denver. He shouldn’t. The Broncos cannot afford to lose him. For all of the similarities to Simmons, Bolles’ situation is different. Read Troy Renck’s column.

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Originally Published: November 17, 2024 at 10:55 AM MST