ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The start of the NFL season is upon us, and the Denver Broncos are poised to kick off the regular campaign following a promising offseason and a perfect 3-0 preseason record. The team is gearing up to face their first real test, with all eyes on rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who is set to make his debut as the Broncos’ starting quarterback in the season opener. This will be a historic moment as Nix becomes the first rookie quarterback for the Broncos to start a season opener since the legendary John Elway.
Head Coach Sean Payton spoke on Monday about the team’s strategy for maximizing Nix’s potential. Payton emphasized the importance of understanding and leveraging Nix’s strengths while addressing areas where he might face challenges. “When you have a new player at quarterback, it’s crucial to evaluate what they excel at,” Payton explained. “The quarterback position is notoriously demanding, and it’s even more challenging when the team is struggling defensively or in the running game. With a young talent like Bo Nix, we need to identify his key skills and focus on those while minimizing potential pitfalls.
Nix’s debut will be held less than ten miles from where he previously competed in a high-stakes game during his college career. Last season, while leading the eighth-ranked Oregon Ducks, Nix faced a top-10 team, the Washington Huskies, in a close match that saw Oregon narrowly defeated. Despite the loss, Nix demonstrated impressive skills, completing 33 of 44 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns.
Head Coach Payton drew parallels between the noise level at Lumen Field, where Nix will play his first game, and the challenging environment Nix faced at Husky Stadium. “It’s going to be a loud atmosphere,” Payton said. “We can expect some similarities to the noise levels when Oregon played against Washington. We’ve dealt with loud crowds before, and we’ll prepare for it this week.”
In addition to preparing for the game environment, the Broncos’ Week 1 preparations involve analyzing their opponents, the Seattle Seahawks, who have undergone significant changes. The Seahawks have a new head coach, Mike Macdonald, who previously served as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator. Under Macdonald’s leadership, the Ravens ranked first in scoring defense and sixth in total defense last season. Additionally, the Seahawks have new coordinators for all three phases of the game, including Ryan Grubb, the new offensive coordinator who previously worked at the University of Washington.
Payton acknowledged the challenge of facing a team with such extensive changes. “Week 1 often features games against teams with new coaching staff,” Payton noted. “Mike Macdonald will play a major role in their defensive and offensive strategies. With a coordinator coming from the University of Washington and a new special teams coach, there are many new elements to consider. We’ll review both last year’s film and this year’s preseason footage to prepare.”
The Broncos have also made a recent addition to their roster, signing former Packers inside linebacker Kristian Welch. Payton indicated that the decision to bring Welch on board was driven by the team’s desire to strengthen their inside linebacker position. “Inside linebacker was an area we identified as needing improvement,” Payton said. “Welch stood out both on film and during our practice sessions. His previous performance and experience made him a valuable addition.”
Welch, who has participated in 57 games over his four-year career, has been a notable presence on special teams, playing at least 60 percent of snaps in various games. He also made a defensive impact in the preseason, leading the Packers with 16 tackles and tying for the NFL lead with two interceptions.
In other updates, Payton mentioned that the team is in the process of selecting their captains and expects to make an announcement shortly before Week 1. He also noted that the decision regarding Nix’s backup quarterback is still pending but will be finalized soon.
As the Broncos prepare to embark on their regular-season journey, the anticipation is high, with a focus on leveraging their new talent and adapting to the evolving dynamics of their opponents.