Nothing seemed to go right for Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix through the first four games of his career. Entering Week 5, the newest rookie signal caller in the AFC West was responsible for a single passing touchdown while throwing four interceptions. Add in his bottom-three completion percentage of 60.1%, and you get an extremely forgettable first month of football for the Oregon alum.
Two months later, Nix’s rookie campaign has become completely unrecognizable.
From Week 8 onward, the 24-year-old has tossed nine touchdowns – the fifth-most league-wide – while recording only one interception. His previously third-lowest completion percentage has skyrocketed to 72.9%, a number only Tua Tagovailoa and Kyler Murray have managed to top.
In the span of four weeks, Nix went from a tough watch to a legitimate Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate.
As fate would have it, Jayden Daniels, the consensus top-contender for the award through the season’s first two months, has struggled to be effective from Week 8 onward. Since, the Washington Commanders rookie quarterback has thrown four touchdowns, an average of one per contest, while completing only 59.5% of his passes.
Of course, Daniels is responsible for an additional 110 yards on the ground in the meantime as well. Although Nix has only totaled 40 yards in comparison, he stands with New England’s Drake Maye as the only rookie signal callers to get into the end zone using their legs during this timeframe.
Nix’ latest outing in Week 11 only made his case for Offensive Rookie of the Year stronger.
AFC West, Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix dominates in latest outing
As the Broncos suited up to face the Atlanta Falcons in Denver on Sunday, fans expected the two to compete in a tight contest. That wasn’t what happened—at all.
Courtesy of a 307-yard, four-touchdown performance, Bo Nix led his AFC West club to a 38-6 victory over Kirk Cousins’ Falcons. The rookie completed 28 of his 33 attempts, throwing just one more incompletion than he did touchdowns.
With a passing grade of 84.7 via Pro Football Focus, Detroit’s Jared Goff and Minnesota’s Sam Darnold were the only two quarterbacks to earn a higher mark in Week 11.
Up next on Denver’s schedule is the Las Vegas Raiders, who allow the eighth-least passing yards while tying for seventh-most touchdowns allowed through the air. Nix battled Las Vegas in Week 5, becoming the first Broncos quarterback to earn a win against the Raiders since their move to Sin City. The rookie completed 70.4% of his passes in the Week 5 meeting in addition to tossing a pair of scores.
Will Nix be able to complete the sweep against Las Vegas this season? If so, his chances to take home the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award only increase. He’ll still have to compete with Daniels and Raiders tight end Brock Bowers for the award, however.
*Top Photo: Tyler Schank / Getty Images
Record Watch: Las Vegas Raiders Rookie TE Brock Bowers On Pace To Set Multiple Records
The post AFC West, Denver Broncos rookie QB Bo Nix Emerging As ORotY Candidate appeared first on The Raider Ramble.