Nix throws for four touchdowns as Broncos dominate Falcons

DENVER — After what their rookie quarterback did at the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday to keep the Denver Broncos in the AFC playoff race, some Broncos players said the team’s five-letter rookie quarterback might have a future with a coveted three-letter award.

Bo Nix, whom the Broncos selected overall No. 12 in last April’s draft, had career bests in passing yards (307), touchdown passes (4) and completion percentage (84.8%) in the Broncos’ 38-6 demolition of the Falcons at Empower Field at Mile High. The win moved the Broncos to 6-5 and keeps them in the AFC playoffs.

“He’s him,” Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II said. “I told him, ‘Man, you’re trying to win MVP, don’t even look like Offensive Rookie of the Year right now, look like MVP.’ Just a testament to him, that he puts in the work.”

Nix, who had no touchdown passes and four interceptions over the first three games of the season, has thrown 13 touchdown passes in the past seven and nine over the past four. After ranking last among league starters in completion percentage through the first month, he has had three games at 73% or better in the past four weeks.

He did not throw an interception Sunday. It was his fourth game in the past five without a pick, and his seventh of the season.

It all allowed the Broncos to bounce back from last week’s potentially soul-crushing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs when the potential game-winning field goal was blocked on the final play.

“He’s definitely settled in — third down, red zone, there’s a lot of things he did really well (Sunday) night,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said. “… It’s our league; you learn every week, soon you think: “I belong here.” And it’s clear that he belongs here”.

The win also completed the Broncos’ run through the NFC South. Four of Denver’s six wins have come against the crossover division on their schedule this year by a combined score of 125-37 over Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Orleans and Atlanta.

The rookie’s two season-high passing yards — 284 yards against the Panthers and his 300-plus game this week — have come against NFC South teams.

“Those games are a lot of fun,” Nix said. “They’re what you work for, they’re the reason you play the game, instances like that. I thought everybody had a great day. … I think anybody at this level can feel that they belongs. … Every week, like Coach said, I find ways to get better.”

The Broncos now need to get down to the AFC bracket, and the AFC West bracket in particular, in the coming weeks to stay in the playoff hunt. Denver entered and exited Sunday ranked No. 7-team in the AFC race.

As Nix finds an increasing comfort level in the offense and Payton learns which parts of the playbook make the most sense for the rookie to run, the Broncos face the closing stretch with six AFC games remaining on the schedule. That slate includes Indianapolis and Cincinnati — two teams immediately behind them in the AFC playoff stack currently — with three divisional games remaining as well: at the Raiders next Sunday, at the Chargers on Dec. 22 and against the Chiefs in the regular-season finale.

“You feel like you’re in good hands,” Payton said of Nix. “He’s smart with the football … He has the ability to create and constantly protect the football.”

“Our team is headed in the right direction,” Nix said, “and we just have to continue to find ways to play like we did (Sunday). … Sometimes you wake up ready to roll. It’s a blessing to be in my spot, in my shoes.”