QB Nix gave Broncos 'an opportunity' in shedding debut

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 Discipline at 26-of-42 passing for 138 yards and two interceptions. He additionally was sacked twice and had a minimum of 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 finest. … At one level within the sport, 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 finest “allies” have been a very good run sport and a very good protection, was notably troubled by the Broncos’ run sport Sunday. On paper, the 25 carries for 99 yards wasn’t too unhealthy. However take away Nix’s 35 yards speeding on scrambles (together with a 4-yard run for Denver’s solely offensive landing within the sport) and the Broncos ran the ball 20 occasions for 64 yards on the opposite carries.

The highest two Broncos working 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 considered one of his two carries, and the Broncos recovered.

“For any quarterback enjoying, we have got to be more practical working the soccer,” Payton mentioned. “Not almost ok … Us as coaches, we have got to judge the run plan and why it wasn’t as efficient as we would like … It should be exhausting enjoying quarterback, interval, if that is the very best we are able to do working the ball.”

The outcome was Nix’s 42 cross makes an attempt have been greater than Payton mentioned he needed the rookie to have within the sport. General, the Broncos completed with 231 web yards on offense and have 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 straightforward on us, for certain,” Nix mentioned. ” It is powerful. 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 objectives regardless of having the ball on the Seahawks’ 20-yard line and the 9-yard line to begin 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’ last drive was proof the rookie was nonetheless engaged at sport’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 to be higher. I’ve obtained 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 sport. 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 vast receiver Josh Reynolds mentioned he was impressed with Nix’s efforts.

“I like that,” he mentioned. “A quarterback that continued to battle.”

Nix is the primary rookie captain for the Broncos since Corridor of Fame working again Floyd Little in 1967. And Nix was the primary rookie quarterback to begin as season opener for Denver since John Elway in 1983.

His process would not get a lot simpler in Week 2, nonetheless, given the Broncos’ residence opener subsequent Sunday is in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who sacked Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins twice and intercepted him a few occasions of their opening win.