Mile High Report
Immediately following the Broncos’ playoff-clinching win over the Packers, CBS’ lead sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson asked Bo Nix what the “underdog Broncos team showed against a really difficult Packers team?”
“That we’re the overdogs,” the quarterback said without skipping a beat.
Yeah. Take that, sports pundits.
The Denver Broncos are the overdogs.
“Every unit played great,” Nix continued. “Defense kept getting stop after stop after stop and two really big turnovers. And offensively we got touchdowns instead of field goals. I think that was the difference.”
Indeed it was. And the reason for that was Bo Nix — the quintessential overdog on Sunday.
“He was having him a day out there,” said his prime target Courtland Sutton after the 34-26 win.
Nix passed for 302 yards on 23 completions, throwing four touchdowns to four different receivers and taking no sacks. More importantly, he converted on multiple drive-saving third and fourth downs.
Tackle Mike McGlinchey noted that Nix “delivered hugely” for Denver.
“Bo, he’s a gamer, man. He rises to every occasion,” McGlinchey added. “He doesn’t back down from a challenge and plays his best in the biggest moments. That’s the guy you want leading the football team.”
No doubt. In fact, both QBs played well, achieving passer ratings over 120 at halftime before Nix would pull away in the second half, going 8-for 13 and throwing two touchdowns, hitting a passer rating of 133.0 along the way.
“This is probably one of the best games of his career,” said tight end Adam Trautman said. “He was unbelievable tonight.”
Lil’ Jordan Humphrey who just rejoined the team two weeks ago said the team has always known this was the Bo Nix they were getting.
“I knew since last year, like he’s a great leader,” Humphrey said. “He’s a great player. He knows how to make plays with his feet. He can sling it. You just see it come to fruition. Everybody is saying it now. That’s what we’ve been saying for a year.”
Like a good quarterback, Nix sees it as a team effort.
“The guys around me do the same,” he said. “The skill guys they balled today, and the O-line played as good as they’ve played since I’ve been here. They kept me completely clean. They battled their butts off. They played with great tempo. They knocked them around as best they could, and I thought our guys responded because of it.”
One of those skill guys who balled was veteran Courtland Sutton. Catching seven passes for 113 yards and one TD, his biggest contribution was actually a 26-yard catch on 4th-and-3 to ultimately set up Denver’s go-ahead touchdown.
“Bo did a great job of giving us chances on the outside to make plays,” Sutton said. “Shoutout to the R.C. (receivers) room. Man, I think everybody was able to get into the box. I think the guys had a great day today.”
Correction, the overdogs had a great day.
