Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs eked by with a 16-14 win against the Denver Broncos in Week 10. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix played quite well against KC’s elite defense and was able to put his team in a position to win the game.
Unfortunately, Broncos kicker Wil Lutz’s 35-yard game-winning field goal attempt was blocked by Leo Chenal, and the Chiefs came away with their ninth win of the season.
Sean Payton Reveals Patrick Mahomes’ Message for Bo Nix
Mahomes, who didn’t have his best game against the Broncos, was impressed by Nix’s performance. After the game, he shared a message about the Oregon product with Sean Payton.
According to Broncos insider Parker Gabriel, Mahomes said, “You got one” about Nix. Payton added, “That means something coming from him [Mahomes].”
The Broncos drafted Nix with the 12th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. There were questions on whether Denver made the right decision, as the quarterback was 24 years old and played five years in college before getting drafted.
So far, it seems like the AFC West franchise made the right decision, as he has been pretty good for them, considering he is a rookie. The Broncos quarterback was delighted to hear praise from Mahomes and believes things like these help him to know that he is on the right track.
Patrick Mahomes told Sean Payton the Broncos “got one” in Bo Nix.
Bo’s reaction to that: pic.twitter.com/grHeO4ixmF
— Zac Stevens (@ZacStevensDNVR) November 13, 2024
“I mean, that kind of stuff is awesome,” said Nix. “That’s, you know, fortunate part of playing the game and competing against these, you know, the guys that have been doing it on the stage for so long.”
“It’s an honor, but at the same time, you know, those are the games that you got to continue to play and continue to compete in, and, you know, ultimately win. And you get guys like that their respect, and then when you get their respect, it’s just kind of, it’s a special thing for you. It’s not something to be complacent about, but it’s definitely you feel like you’re on the right track and you’re doing the right things.”
Nix has thrown for 1,968 yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 10 games this season. He has completed 63.6% of his throws and rushed for 290 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.
In the loss to the Chiefs, he completed 73% of his throws for 215 yards and two touchdowns. He will learn a lot from the experience of playing against the defending Super Bowl champions and will be determined to get a win against them in Week 18.
Nix and the Broncos Have a Real Shot at Making the Playoffs
The Broncos are 5-5 heading into Week 11. Their remaining games are as follows:
- Week 11: vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Week 12: at Las Vegas Raiders
- Week 13: vs. Cleveland Browns
- Week 14: BYE
- Week 15: vs. Indianapolis Colts
- Week 16: at Los Angeles Chargers
- Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
- Week 18: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
A nine-win team in the AFC could make the playoffs this year. Denver’s defense has been lights out this year, and they can easily win against the Raiders, Browns, and Colts.
If the Chiefs lose a game at some point before Week 18, they will likely rest their starters for the game against the Broncos, paving the way for another win for Denver. Payton is one of the best head coaches in the NFL, and he can figure out a way to get one win out of the three challenging games against the Falcons, Chargers, and Bengals.
As a result, the Broncos have a real shot at making the playoffs with a rookie quarterback. Given how poor their future looked with Russell Wilson, it will be a significant achievement for them.