Bo Nix finally threw his first NFL touchdown pass in his fourth professional start, and it came at a crucial moment for the Denver Broncos.
Nix and the offense bounced back from a tough first half, leading the Broncos to a close 10-9 win against an injured Aaron Rodgers and the struggling New York Jets in a defensive battle on a rainy Sunday.
“Usually these weather games turn into run-the-football games, and that’s what we did in the second half,” Nix said. “It worked in our favor, and we didn’t turn the ball over.”
Nix completed 7 of 15 passes for minus-7 yards in the first half and ended up with just 60 yards on 12 of 25 passing. However, the Broncos (2-2) managed to run for 126 yards and took control in the second half.
Nix made a key play when both offenses were having a hard time.
With the Broncos down 6-0, Nix connected with a wide-open Courtland Sutton in the back of the end zone, giving Denver the lead with 3:08 left in the third quarter.
Nix, the No. 12 overall pick in April, threw a high pass to the back of the end zone where Sutton jumped, caught the ball, and got both feet down for the 8-yard touchdown. This capped what was clearly the Broncos’ best drive of the game, as Nix led them 87 yards on 11 plays.
Rodgers appeared to limp a bit after a sack late in the fourth quarter and seemed to be favoring his left leg, the same one that had surgery for an Achilles tendon last year. He was checked by trainers on the sideline.
“Yeah, I’m banged up a little bit, but, yeah, I’m OK,” Rodgers said after the game, adding that both legs have some “stuff” going on.
It looked like Rodgers might have also fumbled on that play, but since the Broncos had no challenges left, Sean Payton could not ask the officials to review it.
