Bo Nix throws four TD passes, posts career game during the Denver Broncos’ rout

Bo Nix is making a strong case for the Rookie of the Year award.

The Denver Broncos quarterback has had a series of strong performances in recent games, but he had his best game of the season against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Nix posted a career day, completing 28-of-33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Broncos' 38-6 rout over the Falcons.

"Those games are a lot of fun," Nix told reporters after the game. "They're what you work for and why you play the game, for experiences like that. "

Nix reached a number of firsts during the game. His yards, touchdowns and 84.8% completion rate were all single-game career-highs. Nix joined Peyton Manning (1998) as the only rookies in NFL history to throw for at least 200 yards and two touchdowns in four consecutive home games.

He's the first rookie quarterback in NFL history with four touchdown passes, at least 300 passing yards, zero interceptions and a completion percentage above 80% for a single game. He is the first Broncos quarterback to throw for at least 300 yards and four touchdowns in a game since Trevor Siemian in 2016.

"The dude should be in the conversation for rookie of the year. There should be no hesitation," Denver wide receiver Courtland Sutton told reporters after the game. "He just shows up, week in, week out. He's been able to progress each week. That's all you can ask for, is for a young guy to continue to progress, continue to meet the challenges that are in front you. That's what he continues to do."

Nix started the game by leading the Broncos on a nine-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins to take a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Nix completed all four his passes for 50 yards during the drive. Nix was nearly perfect in the first half in which he completed 17-of-19 passes for 192 yards, two touchdowns and a 143.9 rating.

Nix threw scoring passes to wide receivers Troy Franklin, Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Marvin Mims Jr. during the game. He spread the football around, completing passes to nine different receivers.

"I feel like each week ... I'm finding ways to get better and seeing different things. It's always adjusting on the fly, reacting to what you see. You can study all you want, but I can't go out there predict the plays they're gonna run or what calls they're gonna be in. So, at that point, you're just reading and reacting. I think we do a good job of putting me in good spots and let me have some answers and choices and we just go out there and find them."

Nix produced his career day against an Atlanta defense that entered Sunday ranked 28th in the league. The Falcons had no answers for Nix, who has thrown for 2,275 yards with 14 touchdowns - including nine in his last four games - along with six interceptions while completing 63.6% of his passes in 11 starts in 2024

The No. 12 overall pick of the 2024 NFL draft is quickly gaining on frontrunner Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels in the race for the Rookie of the Year award. Daniels, who got off to a hot start, has slowed down in his last three games.

Nix and the Broncos (6-5) are firmly in the playoff race and with games against the Las Vegas Raiders (2-8), Indianapolis Colts (5-6) and Cleveland Browns (2-8) in the next three weeks, they have a real opportunity to make a strong playoff push.

"You don't want to settle and be complacent with what you've done in the past," Nix told reporters after the game. "You're always finding ways to move forward. ... It's important for our team to continue that trajectory. Not looking at what has been, but what can be."