Broncos need more from QB Bo Nix after rough Week 1 outing
Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix morphed into the player who struggled early during his rookie season in Week 1.
The second-year passer threw two interceptions and lost a fumble during Sunday's 20-12 home win over the Tennessee Titans. Had it not been for an outstanding performance from Denver's defense — which held Tennessee to 133 yards — the Broncos could've lost the game.
Sean Payton defends Bo Nix after rough outing
Broncos head coach Sean Payton discussed Nix's sloppy performance in his postgame news conference.
"Well, we won, that's the first thing," Payton told the media. "I thought [Nix] hung in there. He battled. Made some critical plays first in the second half, and so obviously he'll be disappointed with the turnovers, but it was a gutsy performance."
Nix — who finished 25-of-40 passing for 176 yards and one touchdown — was much more self-critical.
"You don't ever want to throw interceptions. As tough as it is, you've just got to move on and respond with positive plays after that," the QB said postgame. "Both times I thought I had decent vision ... [but] probably shouldn't have thrown both of them. You live and you learn, sometimes you can be a little too aggressive, and I was too aggressive. Ultimately, I've got to be smarter."
The Broncos need Nix to start playing mistake-free, or else he could have another slow start. Last season, the 12th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft didn't throw a TD pass until a Week 4 road game against the New York Jets. He still finished with 29 TD passes in 17 games, the second most by a rookie in NFL history, via Stats Perform.
Even more concerning for the Broncos, they'll soon be facing much better teams than the Titans, who had the NFL's worst record (3-14) in 2024.
In Weeks 3-5, Denver plays the Los Angeles Chargers (away), Cincinnati Bengals (home) and Philadelphia Eagles (away). The Eagles, of course, are the defending Super Bowl champions. Chargers QB Justin Herbert and Bengals QB Joe Burrow — potential MVP candidates — present challenging matchups for the Broncos defense.
Payton has said the 2025 Broncos can win a Super Bowl. To do that, they need Nix to take another step after finishing third in 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year voting. In Week 1, he didn't look ready to do that.
Aaron Rodgers' debut saved a Steelers' recent draft pick from being put under a microscope for his Week 1 performance
Aaron Rodgers was the catalyst behind the Pittsburgh Steelers' comeback win in Week 1. It was his MVP-like performance along with Chris Boswell's leg that willed the Steelers to victory. But he is no longer the rising tide that lifts all boats.
He can be a distributor whose decision-making, ball placement, and experience allow the Steelers' offense to succeed. But at almost 42 years old, he's obviously not as spry as he once was. Which makes him more of a sitting duck in the pocket, and puts pressure on his tackles to succeed.
Well, if the Pittsburgh Steelers lost that game and Aaron Rodgers didn't put up those numbers, LT Broderick Jones would be facing a lot of heat right now. Because when you see what his tape looked like, it's far from pretty.
Broderick Jones struggles mightily in Week 1
Watching the game live, I thought it was clear that Jones was struggling. He looked out of sorts, but I thought a lot of his struggles came down to what was happening with the coverage. That perhaps Rodgers was holding onto the ball for a tad too long.
That couldn't have been further from the truth.
When you turn on the tape, you see a player who struggled with power, with getting his hands up, with getting his shoulders square to the pass rusher. Jones finished the game with four pressures allowed and three sacks allowed, earning 54.5 grade per PFF, though the grade should be taken with a grain of salt.
Part of me says be patient, give him time and let's not forget this was his first real experinece at LT in the NFL.
The other part of me says, let's get the ball rolling here.
I know he was a LT with the Georgia Bulldogs and I know he's played two years in Pittsburgh. But all those habits he learned at RT, he has to unlearn them now at LT. All of the work he needed coming out of Georgia to be a stable left tackle, well that timeline is just starting.
And to be quite honest with you, the Steelers only have themselves to blame for that.
