Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw one touchdown pass and led the Denver Broncos on long scoring drives to end the first half and start the second half on Sunday, helping them secure a 34-30 win over the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener.
Nix, who was the No. 12 overall draft pick in April, completed 15 of 21 passes for 125 yards and ran three times for 17 yards before leaving midway through the third quarter. He was replaced by former New York Jets starter Zach Wilson.
Veteran Jarrett Stidham started the game and ended up 4 of 7 for 57 yards with one interception.
In his first NFL game, Nix might have taken the lead in the competition for Denver’s starting job.
“Bo Nix is just a great athlete, and I was so close to getting that dude,” Colts rookie Laiatu Latu said. “But I didn’t get him.”
Nix was the most effective of the three quarterbacks and made a difference, mostly against Indianapolis’ backup defense.
For the Colts, the focus was on seeing second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson and 2021 NFL rushing champ Jonathan Taylor on the field together after injuries limited them to just two snaps last season.
They played only two series and didn’t accomplish much. Richardson went 2 of 4 for 25 yards and ran once for 1 yard in his first game action since suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in October. Taylor had two carries for 4 yards.
“We were talking about that in the locker room at halftime,” Richardson said, expressing excitement about his first game since October. “We were kind of disappointed we didn’t get more reps than that. But there’s time for that.”
Veteran Joe Flacco led the Colts to a field goal on his only series, completing 3 of 5 passes for 28 yards.
Nix broke a 3-3 tie with a 1-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Mims Jr. late in the second quarter. After Evan Hull tied the score with a 1-yard touchdown run, Nix set up Will Lutz for a 27-yard field goal just before halftime.
Audric Estime’s 2-yard touchdown run gave the Broncos a 20-10 lead midway through the third quarter, but Colts cornerback Micah Abraham made it 20-17 by stripping the ball from Estime and running 45 yards for a touchdown.
Denver secured the win with Blake Watson’s 6-yard touchdown run with 5:55 left in the game.
