The Denver Broncos have sky-high expectations coming into the 2025 season.
Armed with one of the league's best defenses and brilliant head coaches, Denver has been projected to compete with the Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC West crown.
But after a dreadful Week 1 performance from second-year quarterback Bo Nix, things could be looking a little shaky.
Bo Nix's 'Gross' Week 1 Performance
Christian D'Andrea of USA Today wrote an article listing what he thought were the grossest Week 1 quarterback outings, and the former Oregon Duck came in as the second worst.
Facing the Tennessee Titans, who were the league's worst team in 2024, Nix struggled mightily, turning the ball over three times and recording an EPA per play of -11.4.
"Nix threw nine passes that traveled at least 10 yards downfield. He had nearly as many interceptions (two) as completions (three). He either dropped back or ran the ball 49 times in Week 1 and gained 3.75 yards per play. That's below average for a running back, let alone the guy throwing the ball." Wrote D'Andrea.
The former first-round pick out of Oregon was amazing for Denver down the stretch last season, and Broncos fans were hoping Nix would carry that momentum in 2025, avoiding a sophomore slump.
Sean Payton defended his quarterback after the game, citing the fact that Denver was still able to get the win regardless of the former first-round pick's struggles.
"Well, we won, that’s the first thing," Payton told the media. "Look, I thought he hung in there, he battled, made some critical plays for us in the second half."
It's still way too early to say Nix is regressing, but with a date against the Indianapolis Colts on deck, the former Heisman trophy finalist will have to show Week 1 was an anomaly, and not the norm.