“Certainly [with] the experience each week, you’re going to have growth from a young player,” said Head Coach Sean Payton on Wednesday as the Broncos began to prepare for a Week 2 matchup with the Steelers.
Nix approaches his first home start eager to build off a Week 1 performance in which he led a late scoring drive to cut the Seahawks’ lead to one possession.
“It was a great game of learning, a great growing game,” Nix said Wednesday. “I think the film was positive. You get back and you see that there were opportunities, and [you] just [have to] capitalize on a few more areas.”
Nix finished his debut 26-of-42 for 138 yards, a rushing touchdown and two interceptions, but he said he “absolutely” would be able to build off some of the positive moments.
Among Nix’s impressive plays were a back-shoulder throw to Josh Reynolds for 25 yards before halftime that led to a field goal and several quick completions to Reynolds and Courtland Sutton on a touchdown drive late in the game.
“Those moments were critical in the game,” Nix said. “They provided points and big opportunities. Our two two-minute drives actually turned into 10 points. So that’s really important throughout a game. We just have to find more ways to do that the rest of the time, but I thought that’s a good point. That was a critical catch to Josh before half for three points. Then the slants to Courtland and Josh were huge for a touchdown.”
Reynolds, who led the team in receiving yards, said Wednesday he thought Nix handled the environment well and will “continue to get better.”
Payton pointed specifically to Nix’s “movement skills,” but he noted it would have been tough for even a more experienced quarterback to find success on Sunday in Seattle given the down-and-distances. Denver faced a series of third-and-longs, which Payton said must improve against Pittsburgh in Nix’s first home start.
“We have to be better on our early downs,” Payton said.
Against a defense that sacked Kirk Cousins twice and picked him off on two occasions in Week 1, Nix and the Broncos’ offense will have their work cut out for them. In addition to four-time first-team All-Pro and 2021 Defensive Player of the Year T.J. Watt, the Pittsburgh defense also features former Pro Bowlers in defensive tackle Cameron Hayward, inside linebacker Patrick Queen and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
“Well, it’s definitely a challenge,” Nix said. “They have great players. They’ve been a great defense for a long time. I [have] a lot of respect for them. [It’s] going to be fun playing them for the first time and seeing what it’s like.”
Sutton, who said he spoke with Nix in the locker room after the Seattle loss to offer words of encouragement, said he believes in what the young quarterback can do moving forward.
“I think he did a lot of things really well,” Sutton said. “I told him after the game that he composed himself and handled the flow of the game well. The outcome wasn’t what we wanted, but in terms of the way he came in and handled his very first game in a hostile environment, there’s a lot of hope and promise moving forward.”
On Sunday in Denver, another opportunity to show the promise — and earn a win — awaits.
