The NFL cracks me up. Through two weeks, Bo Nix looked like he didn’t belong on a professional field. Then, he balls out and leads the Denver Broncos to their first win last week against the Bucs. Now, the rookie first-round pick is crashing back to Earth on Sunday through one half against the Jets.
Sean Payton is a demanding head coach, but he’ll need to keep Nix on an even keel as he navigates the turbulence of his maiden NFL campaign. Because damn, while you expect ups and downs out of any first-year player, this is about as down as it gets: Negative seven passing yards in a half.
RT if you have more passing yards than Bo Nix pic.twitter.com/pTwe0aTiZB
— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) September 29, 2024
Bo Nix, who is 7-of-15 for minus-7 passing yards, is the first quarterback to have multiple completions in the first half and throw for negative yards since at least 2000.
— Bill Barnwell (@billbarnwell) September 29, 2024
Now granted, it’s a little rainy in the greater New York City area. MetLife Stadium is a tough place to throw the ball as is when the wind is swirling, never mind some precipitation complicating matters. Until the very end of the half, Aaron Rodgers had only completed four of 11 passes for 22 yards if memory serves. And he’s only at 8-for-16 for 81 yards at the break.
But yeah, Nix is taking some serious heat for his inability to gain net positive yards as a passer against the Jets’ venerated defense.
So, #Broncos QB Bo Nix is 7 of 15 for -7 passing yards today.
No. That's a real stat line. He has 7 completions for -7 yards.
I've covered a lot over the years. I've never seen something like that.
— Connor Hughes (@Connor_J_Hughes) September 29, 2024
Bo Nix’s longest completed pass is for zero yards and he’s completed four passes for negative yardage. ESPN lists the Broncos’ receiving leader as the players who were targeted on incomplete passes pic.twitter.com/hvXAxhVxSo
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) September 29, 2024
Bo Nix having seven completions with -7 passing yards might legitimately be the most impressive NFL feat so far this season
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) September 29, 2024
Joe Flacco threw a TD pass in 2024 before Bo Nix pic.twitter.com/LV4Cl8Ryon
— 🛸🤖 (@ChargersRu1ned) September 29, 2024
Bo Nix may have the funniest stat line of all time right now pic.twitter.com/TVkEaqXszv
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) September 29, 2024
Bo Nix dropping back to throw vs. the Jets defense pic.twitter.com/B7MsaGFRQO
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) September 29, 2024
Michael Penix Jr. has more passing yards than Bo Nix today
Michael Penix has not played a single snap
— Ben Glassmire (@BenGlassmireNFL) September 29, 2024
Bo Nix 6-13 for negative 7 yards. Sean Payton the offensive geniuspic.twitter.com/264LlFpcAo
— Lion (The System) (@Champ_Lion) September 29, 2024
Tough scene out here for our guy Bo. He had the most starts in college football history for a quarterback. You’d think he’d carry himself more like a veteran, or be readier to play in the pros than he’s shown so far. I guess Nix still has some NFL-level growing pains to work through. More than the Broncos were probably counting on.
All will obviously be forgiven if Nix roars out of the visiting locker room and guides Denver to victory. It’s only a 6-0 halftime deficit. The trick is to actually get the ball moving forward in the passing game, which he’s proven incapable of doing thus far this afternoon.
