Broncos' Nix may finally be living up to Payton's preseason hype

Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) looks on after the game against the Dallas Cowboys at Empower Field at Mile High. Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Broncos QB Bo Nix may finally be living up to Sean Payton's preseason hype

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 27, 2025 12:31 AM ET

Before the start of the 2025 NFL season, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton made a bold claim about his quarterback, Bo Nix.

During training camp, Payton told Yahoo Sports' Charles Robinson, "[Nix is] going to be one of the top four or five quarterbacks in the league in the next two years." The second-year star isn't there yet, but he's getting much closer.

Bo Nix looked like an elite QB against Cowboys

Nix had what could be considered his best game of the 2025 season against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. In the 44-24 Denver win, the Auburn and Oregon product completed 19-of-29 passes for 247 yards and tossed a season-high four touchdown passes and one interception.

According to senior NFL researcher Tony Holzman-Escareno, Nix now has three career games with four-plus TD passes. The only active QBs with more such games since 2024 are Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson (five) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers standout Baker Mayfield (four). The only Broncos with more such games all-time are Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning (13) and John Elway (10).

Bo Nix has 3 career games with 4+ pass TD.

Only Lamar Jackson (5) and Baker Mayfield (4) have more such games since Nix entered the NFL in 2024.

The only Broncos with more such games all-time are Peyton Manning (13) and John Elway (10).#BroncosCountry
— Tony Holzman-Escareno (@FrontOfficeNFL) October 26, 2025

"He was magnificent," Payton said of Nix postgame. "He was outstanding."

Denver (6-2) has now won five straight games. Pair stellar play from Nix with one of the deeper rosters in the NFL, and that makes the surging Broncos even more competitive.

"We've got a lot of potential. We played really well, just all cylinders. Run game, pass game, third downs. We played well in the red zone, scored points," Nix said postgame, via Will Petersen of KKFN-FM in Denver. "Our defense played well, got us the ball back a lot. Overall, just a really good performance by us."

Skeptics still may need Nix to thrive against an elite defense to prove he's taking the next step. The Cowboys (3-4-1) have allowed the second-most points (31.3) in the league this season.

Denver's road game against the Houston Texans (3-4) in Week 9 should be a better measuring stick for Nix. Houston has surrendered the fewest points in the league (14.7).

But if Nix keeps building on Sunday's performance, he'll fulfill the potential Payton saw this offseason. That would help the Broncos shake things up in the AFC playoff hunt.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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