If this is the last Broncos fans see of Bo Nix this preseason, he went out with a bang.
The Denver rookie quarterback did nothing Sunday night in his home preseason debut to change the notion that he’ll win the starting job and lead Sean Payton’s team Week 1 at Seattle.
In fact, he only reinforced his strong standing, albeit against Green Bay’s backups, in a race against Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson.
Nix started in front of the home crowd, led two drives, put 10 points on the board with the starting offense and capped his evening with a touchdown pass to veteran receiver Tim Patrick.
The final line: 8-of-9 passing for 80 yards and the score plus 12 rushing yards on three carries and a 14-yard touchdown pass to Javonte Williams that was negated because he narrowly crossed the line of scrimmage before throwing the ball.
If Payton makes it official and names Nix his starter, he may well not play in the preseason finale Aug. 25 against Arizona at Empower Field.
If that’s the case, there’s a simple way to describe the former Oregon and Auburn star’s work in two exhibition games this month: When Nix played, the Broncos moved the ball and scored points.
The 24-year-old led seven drives — five against Indianapolis and two Sunday night. On one of them, tight end Lucas Krull hauled in a short pass and fumbled on the first play.
The other six drives went at least seven plays, produced multiple first downs and ended in points.
In order, they went like this:
• 11 plays, three first downs, three points
• 10 plays, five first downs, seven points
• 1 play, no first downs, no points
• 7 plays, four first downs three points
• 10 plays, four first downs, seven points
• 9 plays, two first downs, three points
• 11 plays, six first downs, seven points.
The final of those doubled as the prettiest. Nix helped jumpstart the drive with a 14-yard screen to Javonte Williams. Then he calmly delivered a 14-yard dart over the middle to Patrick, with whom he’s had a budding connection this summer, on third-and-9. Nix scrambled for 10 to help Denver overcome a holding penalty and drove a 23-yard in-breaker to Courtland Sutton to set up first-and-goal.
Two plays later, he rolled right and hit Patrick again for a 2-yard touchdown.
Nix’s two-game tally: 23-of-30, 205 yards and a pair of touchdown passes and six carries for 30 yards.
For what it’s worth, Nix narrowly kept his sack-free preseason going, too, when he stepped up in the pocket his only time under real pressure and managed to gain half a yard.
More than the exact numbers, though, Sunday night and the past two weeks have provided clarity. Nobody knows how ready a new quarterback is for real, regular-season NFL work. But Nix is ready enough that there’s no reason to wait to find out.
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