Bo Nix strengthens his chances of becoming the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos by defeating the Green Bay Packers

DENVER (AP) — Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton isn't ready to name rookie quarterback Bo Nix his starter, but it seems to be only a matter of time.

“Look, he played well. I'm not going to announce a starting quarterback tonight,” Payton said after Nix made another strong case for the job by leading Denver to points on both drives in his first NFL appearance on Sunday night, a 27-2 victory over the backup Green Bay Packers.

Nix, the former Oregon star and sixth quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, has now led Denver to points on six of his seven drives in the preseason.

Nix threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tim Patrick, whose trip to the end zone was his first in 974 days since he sat out the last two seasons with leg injuries. Nix also had a 14-yard pass to Javonte Williams that was nullified after review because he was just behind the line of scrimmage when he threw.

Denver (2-0), which scored touchdowns from all three quarterbacks, had to settle instead for the first of Wil Lutz's two field goals.

When asked if he felt he had done enough to get the job, Nix said, “That's not for me to decide.”

That's up to Payton to decide, and he's not ready to announce his choice yet, even though he's praised Nix highly.

“He had the one penalty that was right on the line. It was tough,” Payton said. “It was a pretty hectic game. He did a good job at the line of scrimmage with some checks. You can feel how comfortable he is as he continues to get used to the incoming calls. And you can kind of feel the composure when he plays.”

Nix completed 8 of 9 passes for 90 yards and an excellent passer rating of 140.7. Patrick caught four of his passes for 30 yards, none bigger than his TD, his first since December 19, 2021.

“We were just crazy about Tim Patrick after the game,” said QB Jarrett Stidham.

“It meant a lot to me,” said Denver linebacker Baron Browning. “I know it must have been tough for him mentally” to miss two seasons. “Just seeing him fight back … I'm glad to have him back.”

Nix replaced Stidham in Indianapolis last week before taking over the majority of the workload for the first team ahead of his first professional appearance, including a joint practice session on Friday.

That practice proved to be more challenging than the game, although Packers coach Matt LaFleur was not happy with the déjà vu on Sunday when he benched 31 players, including all of his regulars.

“It was a long night,” LaFleur said. “I was hoping our guys would come out with more effort, commitment and grit. We got kind of humiliated the other day in practice and to have that happen again was not what we wanted.”

“That was a good lesson for our guys because it doesn't matter who's out there. If you don't give your best every time you step on the field, these things can happen to you.”

Stidham's 9-yard run into the end zone put the game at 17-0 just before halftime after Keidron Smith completed a 56-yard interception return of a long pass from Sean Clifford, who had started with Jordan Love in a baseball cap.

CONTROL RIPPLE

Zach Wilson cleaned up for Denver, and Green Bay (1-1) finally got on the scoreboard in the final minute of the third quarter when Zach Morton sacked Wilson in the end zone for a safety.

What followed was the first post-safety kickoff under the new rules, and Lutz smashed the ball from his 20-yard line to the Green Bay 2 on a kickoff that was previously not allowed on a safety kickoff. Dimitri Stanley returned it to the 29.

This aspect of the rule change may have unintended consequences, as it may prevent teams that have recorded the safety from taking the favorable field position on the ensuing punt, drop kick or place kick without a tee that they have generally had in the past.

“I don't really like it,” LaFleur said of the change. “You lose the advantage that you get from the safety. It is what it is; that's the rule. We just have to play it that way. But I think you really lose the field position advantage that you normally get from a safety.”

INJURIES: Packers linebacker Ralen Goforth suffered a concussion on Stidham's touchdown just before halftime.

Next

Packers: Host the Ravens on Saturday.

Broncos: Host the Cardinals on Sunday.

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