The Denver Broncos have managed to open the 2026 NFL season with a 4-2 record after beating the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night in overtime. Sitting in second place in the AFC West, the team will look to earn a third consecutive victory in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals.
The Broncos have started the season strong, but their record has masked some alarming quarterback play. In his third year in the NFL, Bo Nix’s efficiency has suddenly plummeted. Nix has struggled mightily to push the ball down the field and is posting some of the worst numbers of his career.
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Through six games this season, Nix has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,049 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, while also losing two fumbles. His 79.4 passer rating for the season would be the lowest of his career. The lack of explosive production is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore, and Nix has been held to under 200 passing yards in three of his last four games.
Despite this alarming lack of production from a quarterback in his third year in the offensive system, head coach Sean Payton has expressed his confidence in Nix.
According to Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, Payton announced that he has not considered making a change at quarterback.
The Broncos still view Nix as their starter and are clearly willing to let him work through his issues as the season progresses. There have also been some health concerns stemming from Nix’s fractured ankle after last year’s divisional round victory over the Buffalo Bills.
However, Nix reportedly told CBS’ Melanie Collins that his ankle is “pretty much back to 100% at this point,” and he feels “as healthy as ever.”
For now, the Broncos appear willing to let the former 12th overall pick settle in and find his footing. However, if his poor play continues, the team may have little choice but to explore other options.
One of the biggest concerns has been how little Denver is attacking downfield. Nix’s average pass length sits at just 4.9 air yards per attempt, the lowest mark among 701 qualifying quarterback seasons over the last 20 years. He also ranks last among 31 qualifying quarterbacks this season in dropback success rate.
If Nix is able to turn these numbers around, Denver’s 4-2 record has given him some cushion and time. If not, the questions surrounding him will only get louder.
More on the Denver Broncos
- Will Jonathon Cooper Play vs. the Cardinals? Answering 5 Questions Broncos Fans Are Asking
- NFL Makes Punishment Decision After Bo Nix Incident
- Denver Broncos Have a Quarterback Problem, but Benching Nix Isn’t the Fix
- NFL Insider Explains How a Jonathon Cooper Suspension Could Count as Time Served for Broncos
