ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Come on, coach. Call it for the kid, already.
Broncos head coach Sean Payton can no longer feign uncertainty or mystery. Bo Nix, the Broncos’ first-round rookie quarterback, is about to be named the starter when Denver plays for keeps Sept. 8 at Seattle.
"He played well,'' Payton said after the Broncos trounced a backup group of Green Bay Packers, 27-2, Sunday night at Empower Field at Mile High. "I'm not announcing any starting quarterback tonight."
Even if Payton won't proclaim what's already known, that Nix will be his season-opening starting quarterback, everyone can see how the coach has patiently played this out. Nix was brought along gradually through the offseason and the early part of training camp until it was time to go near the end of training camp and start of the preseason.
And now Bo is a go.
Nix was superb in his first game before his new home crowd on a warm Sunday night, completing 8 of 9 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown, plus scrambling for a 10-yard gain, as the Broncos’ built an early 10-0 lead in the preseason matchup against a Packer team that didn't dress 31 players.
"I don't know that I've laid out a script,'' Payton said of his Bo Plan. "We're trying to develop and teach and coach and we're trying to get these guys stuff they do well. I think part of our job is to understand their strengths and try to build upon them.
"He's done a good job of working, digesting it and really heading into the game, looking at the game plan and all three of (the quarterbacks) dot the plays they highlight on our (play) call sheet. ... Yeah, it's going well but we're not there, yet."
Backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham ran over a would-be Packers' tackler for an 8-yard touchdown with 30 seconds left in the half to put the Broncos up, 17-0.
"They were calling me Lamar Jackson on the sidelines,'' Stidham said. "I've got a long way to go for that."
The Broncos went on to defeat the Packers, 27-2. The Packers only score was a safety sack of Broncos' No. 3 quarterback Zach Wilson.
The Broncos are now 2-0 in preseason play.
Nix wasn't given the starter's job because he was a first-round pick. He earned it by justifying the first-round selection through his play.
"That's not for me to say,'' Nix said when asked if he's done enough to win the starting job.
Nix started and led the first-string offense on two drives. The first ended in a field goal after his 14-yard touchdown pass to Javonte Williams was brought back by penalty. As it turned out, Nix scrambled left and stepped over the line of scrimmage by a yard when he let the ball go to a wide-open Williams in the end zone. Touchdown was called but replay showed an illegal forward pass.
"When I looked to the side I had a feeling but they didn't throw a penalty so I thought I got by. But instant replay gets us all,'' Nix said.
Wil Lutz kicked a 37-yard field goal to put the Broncos up, 3-0.
On his second drive, Nix flipped a 15-yard screen to Javonte Williams, a 14-yard completion to Tim Patrick, ran for 10 yards to offset a holding penalty on tight end Lucas Krull, drilled a 23-yard fastball to Courtland Sutton to set up first and goal, and tossed a 2-yard touchdown to Patrick.
Two drives, 10 points. Again, it needs to be noted this was the Broncos’ starters against the Packers’ backups for two series. The Packers sat out their top 31 players. Still, the Broncos handled the first-string Packers in a joint practice Friday and did what they were supposed to do through two drives on Sunday.
“Well that was a long night.,'' said Packers head coach Matt LaFleur. "Certainly, I think I was hoping that our guys would come out with more strain, effort, and grit after kind of getting humbled the other day in practice, and then to have it happen again, not where we want to be.
"I think it's a good lesson for our guys in terms of, it doesn't matter who's out there, if you don't put your best foot forward each and every time you go out on that field, these things happen to you. We're going to have to regroup, take a long hard look in the mirror, and you’ve got to get better. We need that urgency from everybody.”
Williams and Patrick also had nice early production. Williams had three carries for 17 yards, plus the 15-yard reception. Patrick may have clinched a roster spot with 4 catches for 30 yards and a touchdown.
“We just went crazy for Tim Patrick in the locker room after the game because he finally scored his first touchdown back from the injuries and stuff over the last two years,'' Stidham said.
"Obviously, I’m happy,'' Patrick said. "I have a higher standard of myself. Just trying to be a better story. So, it’s a step in the right direction. But once I get these camp legs to go away, I’ll be better.''
Stidham and the Broncos’ second-string offense came out for the third possession. Nix needed to do nothing more to secure what should be the No. 1 quarterback position.
If he doesn’t play in the third and final preseason game next Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals – and Payton usually doesn’t play his starters in the finale – Nix will have finished his preseason with 23 of 30 passing for 205 yards, 2 touchdowns, zero interceptions – ZERO sacks – for a 116.7 passer rating. He's had six full possessions and the offense wound up with three touchdowns and three field goals.
That's starter material.
Bronco Bits
Keidron Smith, a backup safety, got his second interception in two preseason games. He returned a Sean Clifford pick 56 yards late in the first half to put the Broncos' offense 14 yards away from another touchdown. ...
Defensive end Zach Allen had an 11-yard sack. Rookie outside linebacker Jonah Elliss had his second sack in two preseason games. ...
Once again, Stidham had some tough luck. He made a terrific 19-yard completion under pressure to Krull, only to have the play nullified by a chop block involving rookie running back Audric Estime. On the next play, Stidham had a pass deflected into the air and intercepted. Otherwise, Stidham completed 7 of 11 for 65 yards.
Stidham was leading the QB race through most of the offseason and first half of camp, but Nix is ahead now.
"Look, I control what I can control and that's how well-prepared I am every day,'' Stidham said. "My effort and attitude every day. And go out there and execute. That's all I can do. I've always said competition is healthy. I think it's really good. I'm not going to get caught up in what's what or what it is or what it isn't. I'm focusing on every single day and do what I can do to be the guy."...
Tyler Badie had his second touchdown in two games -- an 11-yard rush last week at Indianapolis and a 7-yard catch-and-run on a screen pass from Wilson in the fourth quarter against the Packers. Wilson had a 22-yard completion to Michael Bandy but otherwise had a tough outing, finishing 2 of 6 for 29 yards.
“I have to come out better from the get,'' Wilson said. "It was weird to find some rhythm there, but no excuse. I have to find a way to start better.”
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