Ryan Fitzpatrick didn’t hold back after Thursday Night Football, and his assessment of Bo Nix is hard to argue with. The former NFL quarterback and current Prime Video analyst ripped Nix following Denver’s ugly 17-14 overtime victory over Seattle, calling his performance a major problem for the Broncos despite the team improving to 4-2.
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Fitzpatrick unloads on Nix after ugly performance
Ryan Fitzpatrick had seen enough.
After the Denver Broncos’ 17-14 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, Fitzpatrick delivered a brutal assessment of quarterback Bo Nix, arguing that the quarterback isn’t playing with the competitiveness expected at the position.
Ryan Fitzpatrick on Bo Nix: “Bo Nix is not playing competitively. It’s almost disrespectful to the quarterback position how he’s playing football.” https://t.co/BjXUIoDdQg
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) October 16, 2026
The criticism is harsh, but Thursday night’s numbers make it hard to dismiss.
Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions. Denver managed just 168 total yards and failed to score in the second half, punting on all six second-half possessions before finally winning in overtime on Will Lutz’s 53-yard field goal.
The Broncos did enough on defense to escape with the win, but their offense once again looked incapable of consistent production.
That has been a problem throughout the season. Entering Thursday night, Nix was completing just 59.9% of his passes for 942 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions, while averaging only 5.8 yards per attempt. His 6.0 air yards per attempt ranked among the lowest marks in the NFL.
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The Broncos are winning despite Nix
That is ultimately what makes Fitzpatrick’s criticism particularly relevant.
Denver is 4-2 after Thursday’s victory, but the record can obscure just how much the defense has carried the team. Against Seattle, the Broncos’ offense produced only two touchdown drives in the first half before essentially disappearing for the remainder of regulation. The defense then forced the decisive overtime interception that put Denver in position to win the game.
Nix deserves credit for protecting the football, particularly against a Seattle defense that entered the game as one of the NFL’s best units. But simply avoiding turnovers is not enough for a quarterback Denver needs to eventually carry the offense.
The Broncos made it to the AFC Championship Game last season, and expectations entering 2026 were understandably high. Instead, the offense has become one of the team’s biggest concerns. Thursday did little to change that perception.
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