Then, after all, there have been the performs on the bottom. Nix transformed a pair of fourth-and-1 performs together with his legs, together with a important first-quarter try that helped Denver take an early two-score lead. Nix additionally added a pair of third-down conversions together with his legs, however they paled compared to the 29-yard scramble that included a pitch again to Javonte Williams. The play was referred to as again as a result of a ahead pitch, nevertheless it showcased each Nix’s athleticism and his aggressive spirit.

“He modified the ceiling quite a bit,” Surtain mentioned of Nix. “Numerous occasions when rookie quarterbacks are available in, the expectations [are] set low, however he is risen above all these expectations as a rookie. Him coming in with the best mindset, at all times staying composed, [having] the best confidence and angle, I already knew he was going to achieve success coming in. … By means of hostile conditions, he at all times stored his confidence, his swagger. And that is once I knew he was QB1 for the long run, for certain. I am very happy with Bo.”

Even after a season through which Nix threw the second-most landing passes by a rookie in NFL historical past and probably the most landing passes by any Bronco not named Peyton Manning, his teammates imagine the most effective is but to come back from the younger signal-caller.

“Bo is not your common rookie,” Sutton mentioned. “He is available in to work like a veteran. If nobody knew that Bo was a rookie this 12 months, and also you simply noticed how he labored, and noticed how he performed on the sector, nobody would say, ‘That is a rookie.’ I like that about him. I like that he does not enable the skin circumstances or the skin noise to attempt to decide the kind of participant that he will be. He has a lot extra. I advised you all earlier than: It is solely the start. I am so excited [that] I get to expertise Bo Nix’s profession.

“… This is not a farewell to Bo’s rookie season. He has much more within the tank going into [after] this rookie season. It is dope to see him carry your group and a crew to the playoffs after not being within the playoffs for eight seasons.”

As Sutton indicated, Nix’s season seemed little like what one would anticipate from a rookie. The sixth quarterback off the board in April’s draft, Nix threw probably the most touchdowns of any participant in his class. With 5 different scores this season, Nix ranks third in NFL historical past for probably the most complete touchdowns by a rookie in NFL historical past.

And but, the exterior questions on Nix and the Broncos’ 2024 marketing campaign did not finally matter. Nix stored performing, and the Broncos stored successful.

The Twelfth-overall decide set each vital rookie passing mark in franchise historical past, and he joins John Elway because the crew’s solely rookies to steer the crew in passing en path to a playoff berth. Nix, although, gained 10 video games to Elway’s 4.

Nix was sacked simply 24 occasions, whereas he added greater than 400 yards on the bottom. He additionally posted probably the most video games with 200 passing yards, two passing touchdowns and no interceptions of any rookie in NFL historical past.

Fairly merely, Nix — and, in flip, the Broncos — exceeded nearly each exterior expectation.

“All of us have one objective, and that is to go on the market and win for our crew,” Nix mentioned. “It is humorous; we sort of doubled what lots of people thought we have been going to win. [That] goes to indicate that [there was] a number of speak preseason, however you do not have to be what individuals say you are going to be.”

Now, Nix will set one other mark as he’ll develop into the primary rookie quarterback in franchise historical past to start out a postseason sport. Nix’s objectives, although, lengthen far past merely making the postseason.

“Our objective wasn’t simply to make the playoffs, though it hadn’t been accomplished shortly,” Nix mentioned. “It is for lots greater than that. We’re excited concerning the alternative. I do know it’ll be robust, however we have got a sport to play.”