Denver won the coin toss at the start of their NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, and Broncos coach Sean Payton chose to receive the ball instead of deferring to the second half, a strategy he usually favors.
Rookie quarterback Bo Nix made the most of the opportunity, completing all four of his passes for 70 yards and running twice for 5 yards, including a 3-yard touchdown. Nix was responsible for the entire yardage of Denver’s first touchdown drive, which helped pave the way to a 26-7 victory over the Buccaneers — Nix’s first win as an NFL starter.
“He wanted to be aggressive,” Nix said. “We came out and executed exactly what we aimed for — driving down for a touchdown. It set the tempo for the rest of the game.”
On the first play of the game, Nix connected with wide receiver Courtland Sutton for a 22-yard completion. Two plays later, he hit wide receiver Josh Reynolds for a 31-yard gain.
“When you start with a big pass play and get Court involved early, it flips the field, and coach Payton did a great job capitalizing on that,” Nix said. “We hit Josh on the next side, and we scored a touchdown. Starting explosively is key.”
Nix finished the game completing 25 of 36 passes for 216 yards, no touchdowns or interceptions, and ran nine times for 47 yards and a touchdown.
“We were motivated today,” Nix said. “We executed at a high level, and that’s the feeling you want — coming back to the locker room excited. You invest so much time and effort, and those moments are what you work for.”
Nix had struggled in the first two games of the season, throwing four interceptions as the Broncos lost to Seattle 26-20 on Sept. 8 and Pittsburgh 13-6 on Sept. 15.
“It’s our job to give this player a clear picture,” Payton said. “When we do that, he’s going to be something special.”
When asked if Nix played more confidently in Sunday’s game, Payton pushed back.
“No, no, no. That’s not the case. This kid’s been confident from day one. He’s been through challenges at Auburn and beyond, and I’ve never seen him flinch. A win boosts everyone’s confidence, but this kid’s always been steady.”
In high school, Nix led Pinson Valley to back-to-back state championships, setting state records for total offense and touchdowns. He earned multiple accolades, including Mr. Football in Alabama.
Nix had a standout college career, finishing third in the 2023 Heisman Trophy voting after transferring to Oregon, before being drafted 12th overall by Denver on April 25.
This win marked Denver’s first of the season, against an undefeated Buccaneers team that had won its previous two games against Washington and Detroit.
“You only get this first win once, and it’s hard to win in this league,” Nix said. “Our team earned this victory. We were close in the first two games, so to win today against a good team gives us confidence. It’s a long season, and we’ll savor this win, but we’re ready for what’s next.”
