The Denver Broncos escaped Seattle with a win, but Colin Cowherd is not buying the hype—especially when it comes to their quarterback. After Bo Nix turned in yet another underwhelming performance, the outspoken FS1 host has coined a fitting new moniker for the young signal-caller: Bo “Short of the Sticks” Nix.
On Friday’s edition of The Herd, Cowherd didn’t hold back, joking that the Broncos' offense “can be measured in inches.” He explained, “You may call him Bo ‘Short of the Sticks’ Nix, that’s what I’m calling him now.” The nickname is a direct jab at Nix’s persistent inability to convert third downs and keep drives alive.
Denver improved to 4-2 with Thursday night’s victory over the Seahawks, but the win had more to do with a stout defensive effort than anything Nix did under center. In fact, Nix has now thrown for under 200 yards in four of six games this season, and he’s averaging a paltry 174.8 passing yards per contest. His lone 220-yard outing came in a Week 1 loss to the Seahawks—a game the Broncos eventually lost in overtime.
The numbers paint a grim picture. Nix has completed just 60.3% of his passes for 1,049 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s also averaging fewer than 175 passing yards per game, and his rushing production has dipped to just four carries per game. It’s a far cry from the dual-threat ability that made him a first-round pick in 2024.
What’s more, the offensive line isn’t the culprit. Nix has been sacked only eight times all season, meaning he’s had time to throw—he just hasn’t delivered. Critics have pointed to everything from playcalling to scheme to a possible lingering injury, but regardless of the cause, the current trajectory is unsustainable.
This isn’t the first time Nix has faced scrutiny. Earlier this week, Nix told critics to back off ahead of the Seahawks clash, but Thursday’s performance did little to silence the doubters. Even Tony Gonzalez has suggested the Broncos consider benching Nix, and Ryan Fitzpatrick blasted Nix’s “garbage” effort in the Broncos’ overtime win over the Rams just two weeks ago.
Head coach Sean Payton hasn’t publicly wavered in his support, though Payton recently took over playcalling duties after a slow start, a move that has yet to spark the offense. For now, Denver keeps winning, but the margin for error is razor-thin. The defense has bailed out the offense time and again, but relying on that formula is risky, especially as the schedule stiffens.
History is littered with teams that made deep playoff runs despite subpar quarterback play, but winning a Super Bowl that way is increasingly rare. The Broncos are 4-2 and in the thick of the AFC playoff race, but if Nix continues to come up short of the sticks, Denver’s ceiling may be limited—no matter how good the defense is.
