Rookie quarterback Bo Nix put his name on a list that previously had been the exclusive domain of John Elway, Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler as the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 28-14 on Sunday.
The former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn star threw three touchdown passes for the first time in his career and also ran for a TD in the most productive game of the eight he’s played since joining the Broncos as the 12th pick in the NFL Draft on April 25.
The only Denver players with at least three touchdown passes and one touchdown run in the same game before Sunday were Elway (who did it twice), Manning and Osweiler. Elway and Manning are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But Nix did something on Sunday not even Elway accomplished. Denver lifted its record to 5-3, making Nix the first rookie quarterback to start five victories for the Broncos. Elway launched his 16-year career with Denver with four victories in 10 starts in 1983.
“I thought we did a really good job of starting fast and doing it early,” Nix said. “We kind of caught a good rhythm there. Everybody on the field was making plays – receivers, tight ends, running backs. Didn’t matter. 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.”
Nix set a career high with 284 passing yards as he completed 28-of-37 passes. He did not have an interception.
Nix capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins as the Broncos tied the game at 7-7 with 12:29 left in the first half.
On Denver’s next possession, the Broncos moved 92 yards in seven plays, with tight end Adam Trautman finishing the drive with a 19-yard reception from Nix with 6:51 remaining in the first half.
Nix’s third touchdown pass came on a 9-yard toss to running back Jaleel McLaughlin as Denver went up 28-7 with 6:49 left in the third quarter.
“I thought I had good vision throughout the day,” Nix said. “Guys were out there making good catches, great plays, and so I thought we played a complete game, at least in the first half. We got to do better in the second half trying to find the same rhythm we had in the first half. But overall, I thought it was good. Growing each and every week and finding ways to get better.”
Nix had only 4 yards on five rushing attempts, but one of those carries produced a 1-yard touchdown with 1:12 left in the first half.
Nix entered the game with a passing-efficiency rating of 74.4 in his first seven games. On Sunday, he produced a rating of 124.2.
Nix became the fourth rookie this century to post a game with at least three touchdown passes, one touchdown run and a passer rating of 120 or higher. He followed another former Auburn QB, Cam Newton, as well as Deshaun Watson and Justin Herbert.
The Panthers dropped to 1-7 with the loss.
The Broncos figure to face a tougher test in their next game, when they play the Baltimore Ravens at noon CST Nov. 3 at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore.
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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.
