The Denver Broncos rebounded in a big way on Sunday, winning 23-17 on the road over their division rival Chargers. The win came one week after a brutal loss to the 49ers, and with the Chiefs sitting atop the AFC West at 4-0.
But Sunday’s win in Los Angeles probably had more to do with the Chargers’ continued struggles, and Bo Nix arguably looked even worse than Justin Herbert. Nix went just 16 of 27 for 123 yards and one touchdown. If not for the final result, he and the Broncos would be under far more heat right now.
That hasn’t stopped Colin Cowherd from letting his feelings be known. He said Monday that Denver needs to seriously consider whether it sees Nix as its franchise quarterback.
"I watched Bo Nix, and Sean Payton took over play-calling duties, and they still punted on their first series, like this is what it is," Cowherd said. "Against the abysmal LA Chargers, they had less total yards. Right now, their total offense is below the Miami Dolphins. They were 1 for 12 on third down, 3.9 yards a play ... This offense should not be below the Miami Dolphins. So, you can’t extend Bo Nix. You let it play out."
"I mean, they won, but right now his first-quarter passer rating is lower than Cam Ward. And everybody thinks Cam Ward is a bust," Cowherd added. "You can’t publicly berate him. You want a confident quarterback. So let it play out. The Chargers are a mess. Raiders aren’t there yet. Denver, very, very viable chance to be a wild card team ... Guys struggle with this. It’s okay to acknowledge [that] we need a new flight plan. It’s okay to acknowledge with one of your kids. They’re not going to be a CEO of Nvidia.”
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Nix was the Broncos’ first-round pick in 2024 out of Oregon and looked good as a rookie, completing 66.3% of his passes for 3,775 yards and 29 touchdowns with 12 interceptions, along with 430 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Last season, he led the Broncos to a 14-3 record and the top seed in the AFC.
But his passer rating has declined every year since his rookie season, and he hasn’t looked like the franchise quarterback he was drafted to be this year. Through the first five games, he’s completed just 59.9% of his passes for 942 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions, along with just 35 rushing yards.
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His passer rating of 80.9 ranks among the lowest of any starting quarterback, and that’s despite the organization investing in weapons around him, including trading for Jaylen Waddle, drafting RJ Harvey and Troy Franklin, and building one of the best offensive lines in the league.
Nix is still under contract through the 2027 season, with a fifth-year team option for 2028. But any idea of a major long-term extension has to be put aside for now, until he can prove he can consistently be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL.