Bo Nix’s first NFL playoff game started off well but ended in disappointment.
The Denver rookie quarterback threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to his former college teammate Troy Franklin on the first drive of Sunday’s wild-card playoff game. However, the Broncos didn’t score again and lost 31-7 to the Buffalo Bills.
“A lot to grow from, a lot to learn from,” Nix said.
If there is anything positive, the 24-year-old first-round pick now has something to build on after helping lead the Broncos to their first playoff appearance since their 2015 Super Bowl-winning season.
“I haven’t been in the league long enough to know how far off we are,” Nix said, noting his 29 touchdown passes were just two shy of the NFL rookie regular-season record. “I just know we competed against some really good teams this year.
Next year’s going to be a new year and we just got to go and compete like we did this year,” he added. “To make the playoffs was a special moment for this group. It’s something we can build off of. … Our goals are changing.”
Nix finished the game completing 13 of 22 passes for 144 yards and led the Broncos with 43 rushing yards, but was unable to keep the momentum going after the opening drive.
Denver’s offense managed just 154 yards on its last seven drives, four of which ended in punts, two failed on fourth down, and Wil Lutz missed a 50-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game at 10 just before halftime.
Coach Sean Payton said the next step for the Broncos is to win the AFC West to secure home playoff games.
“We got beat today. Especially in the postseason, it’s always a bitter pill to swallow,” Payton said. “It’s got to fuel you and light a fire in the direction we need to go. One of the things we learned early on is we got to find a way to play these games at home.”
The Broncos now have a 2-7 record in the wild-card round, with all seven losses coming on the road. Denver has lost five straight road playoff games.
With the offense struggling, Denver’s defense had a hard time putting pressure on Josh Allen, sacking him just twice. The Broncos wore down as Buffalo had a 23-minute advantage in time of possession.
“We never really had an answer to stop their running game,” Payton said. “And when you’re playing a game like that, you’re not rushing the passer nearly as much as you’ve been accustomed to.”
The Broncos converted only 2 of 9 third downs against a Bills defense ranked 29th in that category.
One of those conversions came on the opening series when Nix found Courtland Sutton for a 19-yard gain on third-and-8, two plays before Nix connected with Franklin for the touchdown.
“You go to a new level, you get to the NFL, I expected it to be tough,” Nix said. “But I was pleased how at the end of the day, it’s just football.”
That’s the mindset Nix plans to take into his next playoff game.
“The biggest thing is that we can make all the hype we want about playoff football. But it’s just another game. It’s just another AFC game,” Nix said. “So I think in the future, it’s treat it like just another game, like it’s the next one on your schedule. You go out there and play.
There’s nothing different. There’s no special thing because it’s a playoff. It’s just a football game. That’s encouraging to know.”
