Sean Payton is giving r ookie quarterback Bo Nix a pass after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the Denver Broncos 26-20. Nix’s performance didn’t help the Broncos’ chances of winning, as he threw two costly interceptions to Seahawks defenders.
Nix finished his first regular season start 26/42 passing for 138 yards, and two interceptions.
Sean Payton defended Bo Nix
Following the Broncos’ loss, Payton said Nix gave the team a chance to win the game. Via Will Petersen with Denver Sports, Payton suggested the offensive line needed to block better. He blamed the receivers for dropping passes.
“We’ll watch the tape, but he gave us a chance. Our protection was average at best. At one point in the game I came to the bench and talked to the receivers and said ‘let’s go.’ I don’t know how many drops we had, but man, let’s help this guy,” Payton said.
Payton didn’t just stop at the offensive line and receivers. Payton called out the running backs for not being effective enough.
Everyone but Nix was to blame on the Denver Broncos’ offense
“I think this, I don’t know how many balls we dropped,” Payton said. “For any quarterback playing, we’ve got to be more effective running the football… not nearly good enough.”
The Broncos ran the ball 25 times for 99 yards, averaging just under 4 yards per rush. Nix was the Bronco’s leading rusher. He ran five times for 35 yards and a touchdown.
Payton said the entire team needs to be better for Nix this season.
“We’ve just got to be better around him. That’s my impressions from just watching it without looking at the tape,” Payton said.
The Broncos will play a stingy defense in Week 2
The offense needs to play better. However, that doesn’t excuse Nix’s turnovers. Nix needs to be more careful with the ball. At worst, the Broncos need Nix to be an effective game manager. If Nix hadn’t turned the ball over, the Broncos are probably 1-0.
Nix and the offense have a tough matchup next week. The Broncos will face a Pittsburgh Steelers team that surrendered just 10 points to Kirk Cousins and the Atlanta Falcons in Week 1.
