The last three games for the Denver Broncos display the inconsistency of Bo Nix. He has two consecutive four-touchdown games and a game with a sub-70 passer rating.
After alluding to getting more aggressive in Week 9, Nix completed less than 50% of his passes. Yes, the Houston Texans’ defense allows the fewest yards and points per game, but these are the defenses Nix will see in the playoffs. Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi chimed in on the situation.
Joe Lombardi on Bo Nix’s Clutchness Late in Games
Lombardi spoke to the media on Tuesday. He chimed in on Nix’s clutchness late in games, who is No. 15 in PFSN’s QB Impact Score.
Lombardi said, “I think as the game wears on and he [QB Bo Nix] settles into it all, I think he is able to play faster and more confident, more comfortable. Again, it’s happened a number of times. I think when it keeps happening, everyone starts believing it. He’s shown it, and it’s really the whole offense. Guys are making plays when they need to. Hopefully, we can have a couple of games where it’s not as necessary to have to be so clutch at the end, but we’ll take them.”
A game where clutchness was not necessary at the end was Week 8 against the Cowboys. In that game, Nix was 19-0f-29 for 247 yards for a 65.5% completion percentage, four touchdowns, an interception, 8.5 yards per attempt, and a 117.4 passer rating. The Cowboys pulled their starters in the fourth quarter and lost 44-24.
Another easy day at the office was in Week 4 vs. the Cincinnati Bengals. Nix was 29-of-42 for a 69% completion percentage, two touchdowns, an interception, 7.8 yards per attempt, and a 97.9 passer rating.
It’s a good problem to have that your quarterback can bring you back late in games. But it’s the slow starts that are jeopardizing wins. Denver came back down 11 in Week 9, was down 19 to the New York Giants in the fourth quarter in Week 7, and came back from down 14 against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.
All told, Lombardi is looking for complete games from the offense. That said, the Broncos play the Las Vegas Raiders on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 10. Nix and Co. can start there.