Can Broncos continue to escape with nail-biting wins?

Why Broncos' nail-biting wins may not be sustainable for the rest of the season 

Now, playing in close games isn't a total negative. It can ensure a team is battle-tested, which can help it win a championship. When the Broncos won Super Bowl 50 during the 2015 season, they had nine one-possession victories in the regular season. 

In other cases, though, tight wins may indicate a team is getting lucky, and these squads can run out of it during the playoffs. Last season, the Kansas City Chiefs had 11 one-possession wins in the regular season. The Philadelphia Eagles steamrolled them, 40-22, in Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. 

The Chiefs have a superstar in quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a two-time league MVP. Denver, meanwhile, features second-year QB Bo Nix, who may be ascending but isn't on the same tier.

After 13 weeks, Nix, 25, is tied for seventh in the NFL in touchdown passes (19) but ranks 20th out of 31 eligible QBs in QBR (54). To his credit, he leads the league in fourth-quarter comebacks (five) and game-winning drives (six), per Pro Football Reference. Despite consistently delivering in the clutch, he has made critical mistakes that could prove costly in the playoffs. 

Against Washington, Nix threw an interception to linebacker Bobby Wagner early in the fourth quarter. On the ensuing drive, Commanders kicker Jake Moody made a 38-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 20-17.

Nix isn't surrounded by elite playmakers, either, making life more difficult for the QB. Broncos WR Courtland Sutton leads the team in receiving yards, with 711, which ranks 20th in the league.

Now, does this mean Denver will collapse in the playoffs? Not necessarily. With five regular-season games remaining, the team still has plenty of time to solve its issues. 

Still, the Broncos better address those soon. Escaping with close wins can be a positive, but it's not something the team can rely on weekly.