Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix faced intense scrutiny Friday following a stagnant offensive display during a Thursday night overtime victory against the Seattle Seahawks.
Former NFL quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, speaking on the “NFL on Prime Video” postgame broadcast, delivered an unsparing assessment of the third-year passer. Fitzpatrick argued that Nix showed a lack of competitive fire and criticized his reluctance to push the ball downfield during Denver’s narrow win, which Yahoo Sports, Bleacher Report and Broncos Wire reported ended 17-14, while People reported the final score as 17-13.
“It’s almost disrespectful to the quarterback position how he’s playing football right now,” Fitzpatrick said on the broadcast. He added that the quarterback “is not playing competitively” and argued that “there’s no fire and there’s no passion.”
Offensive Struggles and Harsh Television Critique
Despite the victory pushing Denver to a 4-2 record on the season, the team’s offense sputtered for long stretches on Thursday. Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for just 107 yards, with no touchdowns and two sacks, according to game statistics cited by the outlets. Denver’s offense concluded six consecutive second-half possessions with punts before prevailing in the extra period.
Fitzpatrick specifically pointed to late-game decisions, highlighting a third-down screen pass that Nix threw out of bounds to stop the clock, as well as a designed quarterback run in overtime where Nix failed to evade a defender to gain a first down. Fitzpatrick asserted that Nix looked hesitant and suggested head coach Sean Payton lacked faith in downfield passing calls.
Fellow studio analyst and Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez echoed those concerns, labeling Denver’s attack “anemic,” according to People. Gonzalez suggested that Payton might eventually consider turning to backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham if the offense fails to regain rhythm.
Payton’s Strategy and Nix’s Production Dip
The Broncos relied heavily on their defense, which forced three turnovers by Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold, including two interceptions. Following the contest, Payton stressed that avoiding giveaways was a primary emphasis for the game plan, Broncos Wire reported.
Payton recently reassumed play-calling responsibilities from offensive coordinator Davis Webb. While Denver did not commit a turnover Thursday, Nix’s overall numbers have dropped significantly this season. According to People, Nix has seen his completion percentage slip to 59.9 percent from 64.3 percent last year, and his 80.8 passer rating ranks 26th in the NFL.
Questions have also lingered regarding Nix’s mobility. Nix managed ankle swelling and stiffness as recently as Week 4, according to Broncos Wire, and has averaged 6.2 rushing yards per game after averaging 20.9 yards on the ground during the 2025 campaign. Nix has maintained that his ankle is healthy.
Addressing external assessments earlier in the week, Nix dismissed talk of diminished performance. “Playing good and playing bad, it’s a narrative, and I think it’s honestly kind of something we make up,” Nix told reporters on Tuesday, according to People.
Denver next faces the Arizona Cardinals, followed by games against the Kansas City Chiefs and Carolina Panthers, before reaching a Week 10 bye. It remains to be seen whether Payton will open up the passing attack or stick to conservative management as the schedule unfolds.
