Tag: Broncos Wire

NBA star Kevin Durant gives his take on Broncos QB Bo Nix

“I like his toughness,” Kevin Durant said of Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Hate or love him, Kevin Durant is an NBA champion and knows what success looks like.

And when you know what success looks like, it doesn’t matter whether it is a sport or skill, you can spot it instantly.

Two-time NBA champion Durant spoke glowingly of Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix.

Nix, who enjoyed a spectacular college career with the Auburn Tigers and the Oregon Ducks, is pioneering a case to not only become the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year but is also on track to get the Broncos back to the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl-winning season in 2015.

With that said, Durant appeared on Kay Adam’s “Up & Adams” show earlier this week and detailed how he loved Nix’s toughness in his inaugural season at the helm.

So far, Nix is completing just under 65% of his passes while throwing for 16 touchdowns and only six interceptions this fall. Nix will look to add to those stats this Monday night as the Broncos look to secure win No. 8 against the Cleveland Browns in Week 13. 

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Broncos CB Pat Surtain helping change the game in public education

Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain aims to level the playing field for financially disadvantaged students in the Denver area.

When NFL players get drafted, they usually compete for three reasons: the love of the game, the right to compete for championships, and monetary compensation that will set your family up for life. 

However, some players are in a rare group: change-makers off the field. Denver Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain is striving to use his foundation, The Patrick Surtain II Foundation, to help make it easier for financially disadvantaged students in the Denver area to thrive in public education. 

That’s incredibly noble of Surtain, who, at 24, still has a lot of road left to run in the game of football and life. To want to make a change in public education, especially for disadvantaged students in Denver, will help him build his name as a change-maker long after his football career ends. So yes, Surtain is making a change on the field, but he’s doing equal, if not more, off it, too.

Check out the NFL’s feature on Surtain’s initiative below:

Terrell Davis praises Broncos’ ownership group: ‘They just want the best’

“They want to be the standard of what a great franchise looks like, and they are already doing that,” Davis said of the Broncos’ owners.

The Denver Broncos’ current ownership group, the Walton-Penner family, has been in charge since August 2022 and has made its mark on the franchise.

From the good (moving off Russell Wilson and signing Sean Payton) to the bad (see Wilson, add in Nathaniel Hackett), the ownership group attempts to right the ship as it enters year 3 in control.

One Broncos legend has acknowledged the Walton-Penner group’s great work. In a recent interview with Kyle Odegard of Sports Talk Philly, former running back Terrell Davis praised the Broncos’ ownership group.

“Man, this is a fantastic ownership group,” Davis said. “Since they’ve been there, they’ve done so much. They don’t look at this as just a project, or we’re billionaires who own a team. They are running this like this is the only thing they have. They are putting a lot of love (into it).

“What owner changes grass on a field for one game that costs you about $1 million? They’re building a new facility over there. The practice facility is going to be incredible. They already put a new scoreboard in. They’re investing money into this team. They just want the best. They want to be the standard of what a great franchise looks like, and they are already doing that.”

Davis, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, won two Super Bowls during his time in Denver. The Broncos will look to improve to 3-2 when they host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

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Pat McAfee reacts to Bo Nix’s first win in the NFL

“Maybe the Denver Broncos have gotten to the point where they have figured it out,” Pat McAfee said on Monday. 

Bo Nix finally has a win under his belt in the regular season.

The first-round pick for the Denver Broncos led his team to a 26-7 win against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday. Although Nix didn’t throw for any touchdowns, his steady performance (25-36 completion rate, good for 69 percent, and 216 passing yards) allowed for the Broncos to have six scoring drives, including a Nix touchdown run. 

Pat McAfee, who has a hit show on ESPN, has been on the Nix train for a while. So it’s no surprise that McAfee was there to sing his praises when Nix had a strong showing on Week 3.

“Maybe the Denver Broncos have gotten to the point where they have figured it out,” McAfee said on Monday. 

https://twitter.com/BolieveInNix/status/1838277535429501137

Nix has a long way to go before he can master Sean Payton’s offense, but Sunday showed that there’s a chance that Nix could become a legitimate player in this league. So there’s still far to go, yes, but it’s Week 3 was a step in the right direction.

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Bo Nix led Broncos’ balanced offensive attack in Week 3

“We want to stay balanced and be a good attack,” Broncos QB Bo Nix said of the team’s offensive performance in Week 3.

The Denver Broncos finally joined the winner’s circle this past weekend, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7 on the road.

Although their record stands at 1-2, the performance of Bo Nix and the offense shows that the potential for the Broncos is promising.

Although Nix didn’t pass for a touchdown, he completed 25-of-36 pass attempts, suitable for a 69.4% completion rate and 216 yards. He also rushed for 47 yards and a touchdown.

After the game, Nix praised coach Sean Payton’s balanced game plan and the offense’s execution against the Bucs.

“Well, we put together a great game plan this week,” Nix said after the game. “We were very balanced. We came out early and threw the ball. Then, later in the game, we had to run the ball when everybody in the stadium knows we are running the ball, and we were able to get first downs that way. So, it was a complete offensive game, I thought.

“We ran the ball well and it got us in manageable third downs, and we were efficient when we threw the ball. Our guys made plays. They did a great job with yards after catch, and I think, moving forward, that’s what we continue to want to do. We want to stay balanced and be a good attack.”

Denver finished the game with 352 net yards — 216 passing and 126 on the ground — and the offense had six scoring drives, a big step in the right direction.

The Broncos will aim to improve to 2-2 when they face the Aaron Rodgers-led New York Jets on the road in Week 4.

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Why Bo Nix impressed Rich Eisen despite Broncos’ loss

Rich Eisen tweeted that “there’s a lot to like about Bo Nix” after the QB’s NFL debut. Eisen explained his reasoning on his show this week.

Bo Nix made his NFL debut for the Denver Broncos this past weekend. Although the Broncos would end up losing the rookie quarterback’s opening start to the Seattle Seahawks, 26-20, apparently he left optimism to rise.

Nix finished the game 26-of-42 passing for 138 yards and two interceptions. He also got sacked twice but rushed for a touchdown that made the game close at the end. Another positive was his 62% completion rate. Perhaps this is why famed sportscaster Rich Eisen walked away impressed with Nix and his performance.

Eisen thought that despite struggles, there was much to like about the QB and that Broncos fans should remain optimistic going forward. Eisen posted on Twitter/X about his thoughts on Nix, and despite the backlash, he stood on how he felt and believed that Broncos fans should remember it’s only the first game of the season.

Check out Eisen’s reasoning for his Nix take below:

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Broncos owner Greg Penner joins NFL’s Finance Committee

Broncos owner/CEO Greg Penner has joined NFL’s Finance Committee.

The Denver Broncos ownership group continues making moves. 

The Walton-Penner family took over the Denver franchise in 2022 and is on the road to getting it on the right track. Greg Penner, the team’s majority owner and CEO, will now add his expertise to the NFL’s Finance Committee, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. 

This marks the fourth NFL committee Penner has joined and the sixth committee the ownership sits on overall. 

As the NFL continues to grow, Penner’s expertise comes right on time. From the Klis report: 

Given Penner’s financial and business experience in the corporate world — he’s been chairman of Walmart since 2015, founded the investment firm, Madrone Capital Partners and serves as a financial analyst for Goldman Sachs — it only makes sense for the NFL to lean into his knowledge on financial and business-related committees.

His experience figures to help the NFL during a time of unprecedented growth and revenue for the league.

While Penner is making business moves, his Denver Broncos are set to kick off Week 1 against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8.

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Peyton Manning to host ‘A Conversation with Larry David’ in Denver

Peyton Manning will host ‘A Conversation with Larry David’ at the Paramount Theatre in Denver on Sept. 20.

What a dream team and eventual conversation that will take place soon.

Former Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, the NFL’s only five-time MVP in history, will pair with legendary television writer, comedian, and actor Larry David and will take the stage for a show titled “A Conversation with Larry David featuring special guest moderator Peyton Manning” on Friday, Sept. 20, at the Paramount Theatre in Denver.

Manning played for the Broncos from 2012-2015, winning Super Bowl 50 in his final season.

If you are in Denver and would like to go, you should get tickets quickly. The show is in hot demand with the cheapest seats remaining on Ticketmaster listed for $324.

The show starts promptly at 7 p.m. and there’s no opening act, so attendees are encouraged to arrive early. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

A conversation between two legends in their respective fields will undoubtedly be captivating. Manning’s quick wit and David’s legendary creativity will surely entertain the audience.

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2 Broncos players made PFF’s 2024 All-Preseason Team

Broncos QB Bo Nix and OLB Jonah Elliss made Pro Football Focus’ All-Preseason Team this summer.

Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix and pass rusher Jonah Elliss both made Pro Football Focus‘ All-Preseason Team this summer. While it’s obviously not the equivalent to an All-Pro nod, it is a good sign for the team’s future.

Nix had an excellent preseason, going 23-of-30 passing for 211 yards and two touchdowns while completing just under 77% of his passes. Yes, it was only preseason, but it was enough to land the starting job over Jarrett Stidham.

Elliss also had a strong showing in preseason. The third-round draft pick totaled six pressures, two sacks and one forced fumble in preseason. His pressures also forced two interceptions.

The Broncos will kick off their 2024 NFL season against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sept. 8. Nix will start in Seattle and Elliss will likely serve as a rotational pass rusher. They both appear to have bright futures in Denver turning in impressive performances in preseason.

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Chris Simms, Mike Florio react to Bo Nix’s first start in the NFL

Chris Simms, Mike Florio and more reacted to Bo Nix’s first (preseason) start in the NFL.

The Bo Nix era with the Denver Broncos has officially begun.

Nix made his first (preseason) start this past weekend, going 8-9 passing for 80 yards, a touchdown, and a 140.7 passer rating as the Broncos defeated the Green Bay Packers convincingly 27-2.

Nix’s play, which most recently secured a starting nod for the Broncos in 2024, garnered praise from NFL media, from Pat McAfee to Chris Simms. McAfee believes Nix is a “superstar in the making.”

Simms and Mike Florio, who work with Pro Football Talk, evaluated Nix’s performance on Sunday. They stated that Nix showed poise in his first professional start:

Florio also stated that Nix looks the part in Denver’s head coach Sean Payton’s offense. Payton cut his teeth perfecting his offense with the New Orleans Saints, with Drew Brees under center, setting offensive records.

Simms also broke down Nix’s performance on his own YouTube channel:

And his dad, Phil Simms, reacted to the performance at the 28-minute mark below:

With Nix’s college pedigree and experience, he seems poised to make his mark as Denver’s QB1 for years to come.

Denver will wrap up preseason against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

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