Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton wants quarterback Bo Nix to “keep firing” deep passes, which have been inconsistent and even led to turnovers so far this season and could prove costly against the Cincinnati Bengals on “Monday Night Football.”
Nix has vowed to keep at it.
Nix will not have to outduel Joe Burrow. Burrow is sidelined at least until January with a toe injury that landed him on injured reserve. Still, CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell predicts a Broncos loss.
Bo Nix, Broncos Expected to Lose to Bengals in ‘Bold Prediction’
Nix and the Broncos enter the contest as 7.5-point favorites for their first primetime matchup of the 2025 season, per Vegas Insider. This is despite the Bengals having a better record at 2-1.
The Broncos’ QB has completed 64.2% for 535 yards, 5 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions this season. He has taken just 3 sacks. However, Nix’s interception rate rose more than his touchdown rate did, per Pro Football Reference.
All of the Broncos’ issues could cost them dearly against the Bengals.
“The Denver Broncos have won six consecutive home games, which stands as the third-longest active home streak in the NFL behind only the Buffalo Bills (13) and Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles (9). That streak is going to come to an end in Week 4 against the Joe Burrow-less Cincinnati Bengals,” Podell wrote on September 26. “Cincinnati is finally going to get running back Chase Brown going, win the time of possession battle and knock off 2024 NFL Defensive Player of the Year cornerback Pat Surtain II and his ferocious Broncos defense.
“Denver quarterback Box Nix’s four turnovers this season are tied for the fifth-most in the league, and Cincinnati fill-in quarterback Jake Browning’s five turnovers are tied for the most in the NFL with Joe Flacco, Tua Tagovailoa and Bryce Young. This week, Browning takes better care of the football than Nix, and the Bengals persevere.”
ESPN’s Seth Walder also predicted that Brown would get rolling this week, adding that Browning would “look better” than he did against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 3.
The 7.5-point spread for the Broncos-Bengals contest is the third-highest of the week. It ranks behind the Buffalo Bills against the New Orleans Saints (15.5) and the Cleveland Browns versus the Detroit Lions (10).
Bo Nix Reacts to Sean Payton’s ‘Keep Firing’ Directive
Nix’s deep ball issues have been a significant storyline this season. Payton remained unwavering in his support for his second-year QB.
“Keep firing,” Payton told reporters on September 25. “Just keep firing. He’s going to hit plenty of those.”
“I love it. That’s the name of the game: You just keep making the next play, you keep throwing it. You don’t want to be afraid of failure, you don’t want to be afraid of missing,” Nix told reporters on September 25. “Just go out there and shoot the shot, and we’ll hit them.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Nix is 4-for-11 on deep passes this season, throwing for 139 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT.
The bigger concern for Nix and the Broncos is in the intermediate range.
Nix is 4-for-12 on such opportunities, with 0 scoring passes and 2 picks. Nix and the Broncos want to get back in the win column. The QB has to deliver on his vow. He must begin connecting on passes further than 9 yards down the field. He has completed 80% of his passes below that.