The Denver Broncos avoided falling into the trap against the New York Jets, and quarterback Bo Nix offered strong thoughts about what transpired and what the team is getting from one of its highly touted stars.
This win pushed the Broncos to 4-2 on the season. Nix is now 14-9 in his NFL career, and the Broncos have a home date against the New York Giants on tap in Week 7.
He also seems to want to see more of teammate Evan Engram in the offense.
Bo Nix Draws Attention With Evan Engram Comments
GettyEvan Engram #1 of the Denver Broncos reacts after a catch against the New York Jets.
Engram finished the win with five receptions for 42 yards on six targets, pacing the Broncos in all three categories. His receptions and yards both set season highs, while Engram also added 7 yards on a rushing attempt.
Nix did not directly say that the Broncos should feature Engram more in the passing attack.
Still, The Denver Post’s Luca Evans noted on X that it “sure seems as if Bo Nix is an advocate for more continued targets for Evan Engram. No need to read between the lines here.”
“It’s really good for our offense, as you can see,” Nix told reporters on October 12. “I thought today, really in the first half, we tried to get him the ball, and that’s what happens when you try to get him the ball. He makes those big plays. That’s why we acquired him. That’s what we felt confident that he could bring to our team. And then again, in the fourth, when we needed it, he was the one that made the catch.
“He had the hot hand today. He, I think, carried over from last week. He’s playing really good, he feels good, he’s out there um winning matchups. He’s just a tough matchup for safeties and linebackers.”
“It just, I think, shows what he could be when we try to target him and get him the football,” Nix said.
Nix also praised a historic effort from the Broncos’ defense, citing their “almost impossible” and “impressive” feat of 9 sacks on Jets QB Justin Fields. Nix called his defense “fun” to watch but “awful” to play against, noting their sacks were “pretty much like turnovers” since “they kill drives.”
Nix’s mention of targeting Engram early is noteworthy, given the Broncos’ second-half woes.
Bo Nix Gets Honest About Broncos’ Win
GettyBo Nix #10 of the Denver Broncos with the ball during a game against the New York Jets.
Nix and the Broncos outgained the Jets by 164 total yards of offense, but their 246 yards of output mark a new low for the season. The QB started well enough, completing 15 of 20 passes for 125 yards and 1 touchdown.
However, he was 4-for-10 for 49 yards after the break. At one point, the Broncos found themselves trailing the Jets 11-10 following a penalty while Nix was in the end zone.
They strung together enough offense to retake the lead for good with a field goal, though.
“We were in a weird spot, sort of a hole, and we had to dig ourself out of it. And we knew we needed a drive. We felt confident that [if we] just get back ahead and our defense wouldn’t allow them to score again, and it’s pretty much what happened. We got a good drive, finally got a couple explosives. Evan sort of turned it on, switched things for us once he made that catch. Got a first down. Then Marvin [Mims] with his explosive.
“Then, we got down there and ran a couple runs and got in field goal range. You’d like to score on a drive like that to really put the pressure on them, but we were just glad with points at that point without doing much offensively.”
At one point, Nix could be seen speaking with wide receiver Courtland Sutton on the Broncos’ bench. Sutton had one catch for 17 yards in the game.
Asked what changed from the first to the second half, Nix again mentioned Engram in passing.
Bo Nix Speaks to Key Change in Offense
GettyDenver Broncos head coach Sean Payton interacts with his players before facing the New York Jets
“We just didn’t have those same plays. We weren’t in a very good rhythm at all. And first half, we were going quick, getting the ball to different players, spreading the ball around. Getting them in certain defenses where we get softer coverage. And then, obviously, there in the second half felt kind of like the opposite. A lot of run-heavy looks, a lot of loaded boxes. And then, just complete lack of rhythm,” Nix said.
“Thank goodness Evan got open on his man-to-man. And then, it started to switch, and that drive we were able to do just enough, getting in a little bit of a rhythm, and spread the ball around enough to go down and get points. But just kind of felt like a tale of two different halves, with what we were doing.”
Broncos head coach Sean Payton spoke to the negative perceptions of the Broncos’ offensive game plan during his media availability.
Nix’s comments could be informative for Payton and good news for Engram and the Broncos.
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