Bo Nix has a simple explanation for why the Denver Broncos keep falling behind before halftime. The third-year quarterback, who has made a habit of bailing Denver out late, says the trouble begins on the first snap of each drive.
“Are we getting first downs early in drives? Or are we just going first down, second down, third down?” Nix said this week, according to ESPN’s Jeff Legwold. “That’s just exhausting as an offense.”
Denver’s first-down numbers back up Bo Nix
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Legwold reported that the Broncos have gained at least four yards on only 31.5 percent of their first-down plays, a success rate better than only the winless Miami Dolphins’. That leaves Nix in long-yardage situations, and defenses have come after him. He has been pressured on 33 percent of his dropbacks, a career high, according to The Denver Gazette, and opponents are blitzing him on 38.4 percent of passing situations, up from 25.2 percent last season.
Denver has 10 first-half points in three games, the fewest in the NFL, and its three opening possessions ended in an interception and two three-and-outs. Fifty of the team’s 60 points have come after halftime. The Broncos trailed the Rams 16-0 at halftime last week before rallying to win 30-26. Nix’s 45.7 overall grade from PFF ranks 34th among 36 qualified quarterbacks, and he has been charged with eight turnover-worthy plays. He has completed 56 of 93 passes for 605 yards with four touchdown passes and three interceptions, per Pro Football Reference.
“We can’t ignore the fact that it has to be better earlier,” coach Sean Payton said, according to DNVR Sports. Nix agreed. “The really good teams that win the whole thing, they have games where they start fast and they don’t just rely on the second half,” he told the Gazette.
San Francisco is a hard place to try another slow start. The 49ers are 3-0, rank second in the league in scoring and have outscored opponents 98-50. Denver is 13-2 in one-score games over the past two seasons, but those comebacks get harder as the early deficit grows. Kickoff at Levi’s Stadium is 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS.
