Sean Payton has his man. Bo Nix proves why he is the 12th pick of the 2024 NFL Draft with a signature win over the Dallas Cowboys. In PFSN’s QB Impact metrics, Bo Nix totals a 75.8 (No. 20) impact score. After this week, there will be an update to that for sure. Nix threw four touchdowns in Week 8.
Denver Broncos are legitimate Super Bowl Contenders
After a first-possession interception that led to a field goal, Bo Nix settled in with a crucial third-down conversion to Troy Franklin for 26 yards on the next drive to keep up with the field position battle.
The play set up an R.J. Harvey 40-yard scamper two plays later. Broncos 7-3. On the next drive for the Cowboys, John Franklin-Myers sacked Dak Prescott on third down to back up the offense on their own 19. It led to a punt that set up the Broncos’ next drive on their own 38.
Great field position for a drive that ended on a Nix-to-Franklin 25-yard TD pass. It was 27-10 to close out the first half after perfect ball placement by Nix on the outside shoulder of rookie Pat Bryant on a 24-yard TD pass in the end zone.
But the game never felt close, as Prescott ended the half with an interception. Even with a touchdown drive to start the second half, it was giving too little, too late.
The Broncos scored on all but one non-kneel-down drive after the first-possession interception to end the game. Dagger: Nix laid another deep ball in the hands of Courtland Sutton for a 39-yard completion down the left sideline. The former ended the drive with a seven-yard touchdown pass to Franklin. Broncos 37-17. The Broncos eventually win 44-24.
Nix’s stat line: 19-of-29 for 247 yards and four touchdowns, a 65.5 completion percentage, one interception, 8.5 yards per attempt, and a 117.4 passer rating
Troy Franklin Introduces Himself to the Rest of the League
In the first quarter alone, specifically the first two drives, Franklin took control of the game, with three receptions on four targets for 61 yards and a touchdown. A busted coverage left Franklin alone in the middle of the endzone for the grab. Broncos 14-3. Nix and Co. were settling in.
Hold up, wait a minute, Franklin wasn’t finished. He scored a second touchdown to start the final frame. Again, dagger. Franklin ended the game with six receptions on a team-high eight targets for 89 yards and two touchdowns. The Broncos ride a four-game win streak to 6-2.
Key team stats: Broncos outgain the Cowboys in yards 426-339, convert 5-of-8 third downs to the Cowboys’ 4-of-11, and go 4-of-5 in the red-zone as opposed to 2-of-4 for the Cowboys
Riley Moss is a third-round steal by GM George Paton
Drafted in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Riley Moss is turning into a third-round steal. The CB came up with two key pass deflections in the first half to halt Prescott-led Dallas drives, including one in the end zone to prevent a touchdown.
Later, Moss edged CeeDee Lamb to his right out of the end zone on a would-be 29-yard touchdown. With Patrick Surtain II out for the second half, Moss stepped up. The latter helped hold the Cowboys offense to two touchdowns to close out the game.
