Rookie quarterback Bo Nix played the best game of his professional career Sunday in the Denver Broncos’ 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons, producing four touchdowns and 307 passing yards.
Making just his 11th career start, Nix looked comfortable under center on his way to torching the Falcons. He tied a Broncos single-game rookie record (Marlin Briscoe, Don Breaux) with a 145.0 passer rating. Nix’s completed a number of passes on the move, in the pocket and into tight windows against a banged-up Atlanta defense.
Nix’s stellar game and run as of late could to give him a push for Offensive Rookie of the Year. While Nix shined in every facet, the Broncos defense stifled Kirk Cousins and Co. holding the Falcons to 4-of-13 on third down and less than 250 yards with no touchdowns.
Nix finds Lil’Jordan Humphrey for his 4th TD of the day 😱
📺: #ATLvsDEN on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/Mdm5QBvTaT— NFL (@NFL) November 17, 2024
Nix making noise in Rookie of the Year conversation
Don’t ship that NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award to the nation’s capital just yet.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels had the red-hot start. So did New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers. Quarterback Drake Maye has been a bright spot for the New England Patriots since taking over at quarterback for Jacoby Brissett. And Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers has days where he vacuums every pass in sight. But nobody has played better since the season’s first month than Nix, who was dominant in Sunday’s rout of the Falcons.
The 24-year-old rookie, who was the sixth and final quarterback taken in the first round of this year’s draft, became just the second rookie quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in four straight home games. The other: Peyton Manning. Nix, in his last seven games, has thrown 13 touchdowns and only two interceptions while completing 69 percent of his passes.
Nix calmly operated a pocket Sunday that was rarely disturbed by pressure. He threw a touchdown pass in every quarter, including a 41-yard dart on the run to Lil’Jordan Humphrey in the fourth quarter. He surpassed the 300-yard mark for the first time this season and watched Denver’s final offensive series from the sideline as backup Jarrett Stidham took the controls of the blowout.
Nix continues to get better each week. He followed up a strong performance in a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs last week with a near-perfect outing against a team that entered the game with a 6-4 record. It’s progress that is encouraging not only for Denver’s hopes to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2015 — but in their quest to build a perennial contender going forward. — Nick Kosmider, Broncos beat writer
Banged-up Falcons limping into bye week
Atlanta still has a comfortable lead in the NFC South because it leads Tampa Bay by two games in the win column and has beaten the Buccaneers twice already this season. However, Tampa Bay only plays one more team with a winning record this season, and the Falcons’ play of late doesn’t make any lead feel safe.
The Falcons’ bye week couldn’t come at a better time. For starters, it will give them time to get healthy. Cornerbacks Mike Hughes, Dee Alford and Antonio Hamilton Jr. and linebacker Troy Andersen all missed Sunday’s game. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney (hamstring) and defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) left the game and did not return due to injuries. Maybe more importantly, though, it gives Atlanta a chance to regroup mentally.
The Denver loss was just the Falcons second straight, but the defensive issues seem so intractable that even two weeks to look things over may not be enough. The Broncos scored touchdowns on four of their first five offensive possessions and averaged 6.7 yards per play for the game. The defense rightfully will get most of the negative attention coming out of the game, but Atlanta’s offensive effort against one of the league’s best defenses was not comforting when considering potential playoff matchups either.
The Falcons rushed for a season-low 50 yards after gaining at least 100 on the ground in each of the previous five games. Cousins was sacked three times and hit four more before being replaced by rookie Michael Penix Jr. midway through the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Drake London caught only three of his seven targets, and tight end Kyle Pitts had one catch for 9 yards. — Josh Kendall, Falcons beat writer
Williams’ TD run exemplifies win
If there was a play that illustrated the totality of Denver’s performance Sunday, it was Javonte Williams’ 14-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.
After bursting through the line of scrimmage, the running back was met by safety Justin Simmons, his former teammate, at the 5-yard line. As Williams drove his legs, wide receiver Lil’Jordan Humphrey arrived to push him from behind. He was followed by receiver Devaughn Vele. Then, offensive linemen Quinn Meinerz and Ben Powers. The bruising Broncos escorted Williams all the way into the end zone as Denver took a 14-3 lead.
It was a microcosm of the way the Broncos dominated. They harassed Cousins to the tune of three sacks, including Nik Bonitto’s eight of the season, and they picked him off in the third quarter (linebacker Cody Barton). They forced a three-and-out to begin the second half, quickly extinguishing any rhythm the Falcons hoped to build while the game was still in reach. The special teams produced a big return by Marvin Mims, pinned a punt inside the 10-yard line, and appeared to clean up the field-protection issues that cost them last week’s game against the Chiefs.
It was a total team effort, the kind the Broncos need to consistently replicate down the homestretch in order to reach the playoffs. — Kosmider
Required reading
- NFL Week 11 live updates: Ravens-Steelers, Chiefs-Bills, predictions, odds, league scoreboard, inactives
- Among the stakes when Falcons, Broncos meet Sunday: Elliss family bragging rights
- How do you fix the NFL’s worst pass rush? The Falcons are dying to figure it out
- Bo Nix’s ‘race to improve’ during trying first month paying dividends for Broncos
(Photo: Matthew Stockman / Getty Images)
