With this performance, Bo Nix firmly positioned himself in the Rookie of the Year conversation.
The Carolina Panthers got off to a good start and scored the first points of Sunday’s game in the ‘Mile High City’ Denver, but any hopes and thoughts of a monumental upset quickly went out the window.
Denver Broncos quarterback Nix engineered three touchdown drives in the second quarter and the Panthers offense was held in neutral after their game-opening scoring drive until they found the endzone in the final seconds of the game. Nix also used his wheels, which are underrated for a touchdown and the Broncos cruised to a 28-14 home win that moves them to 5-3 on the season.
“Everybody on the field was making plays: receivers, tight ends, running backs,” Nix said. “The ball was being dispersed to a lot of positions and I thought that was good. Tough on a defense when you’re getting a lot of guys involved.”
Coach Sean Payton, who demands excellence at all times, did not like the way the Broncos started or finished the game. In between, there was plenty for him to be proud of, though.
“It’s not a good offense we played. It’s just the truth,” said Payton, who ruffled the feathers of some Panthers, most notably cornerback Jaycee Horn, with a fake field-goal attempt and a wide receiver pass with a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter. “So, we expected that and we’re going to see a lot better teams.”
Nix went through his growing pains with some rough outings early on in the season, but the 12th pick out of the University of Oregon, now has seven touchdown passes and one interception over the last four weeks, because the game has slowed down for him. He was an efficient 28-of-37 for a season-high 284 yards on the day and he had several positive connections with tight end Adam Trautman and his No. 1 target, wide receiver Courtland Sutton over the course of the afternoon. He spread the wealth, completing passes to ten Broncos overall, so there are a plethora of options for Nix to use as he orchestrates the offense.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Broncos have to feel good about themselves and how things are shaping up for the back half of the schedule. They are in the playoff race in the AFC and they will be in for a good test to see where they measure up when they visit Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday, who are also 5-3 after their loss to the Cleveland Browns, 29-24.
The Panthers were out of the playoff race weeks ago and one can only speculate if they will dust off the cobwebs and turn back to second-year quarterback Bryce Young for an extended stretch at some point in the coming weeks. Young was not great on Sunday, but he was not as bad as he has been in some of his previous starts and the Panthers’ receiving corps, which has been mangled by injuries, did not give him much help against a good Broncos defense.
Young wrapped up the game 24-of-37 for 224 yards, two touchdowns, and a pair of interceptions. If the Panthers are not planning to trade him ahead of the November 5 deadline, it would wise for them to take a good look at what they have and get a fuller evaluation of his play as Andy Dalton is a known asset around the league and they need to come up with a concrete game plan for addressing the most important position on the field this offseason.
“I was definitely grateful, grateful for the opportunity,” Young said. “I was grateful to play, grateful to be out there with the guys. Obviously, it didn’t turn out the way we wanted to. No matter what, I was just blessed to be on the field today.”
Dalton’s sprained thumb injury which he sustained in a car accident last week, will play a factor in any quarterback decision for the Saints’ visit to Carolina next Sunday and it is shaping up to be another long season in Charlotte no matter which way things go.
“I’m proud of the guys for the way we finished the fight,” Carolina coach Dave Canales said. “The guys continued to play hard, all the way throughout.”
The Panthers host Alvin Kamara and the New Orleans Saints next Sunday.
