To sum up his desires for his quarterback, Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton referenced a line from the award-winning television show, “The Bear.”
“Let it rip,” Payton told third-year quarterback Bo Nix, same as the note the main character found from his older brother to end the first season.
The phrase lends itself more to a Hollywood moment than an NFL quarterback making split-second decisions dozens of times over multiple hours. But to watch Nix in 2026 is to understand where Payton, who took play-calling duties back from offensive coordinator Davis Webb prior to the Broncos win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 11, is coming from.
“I’ve said to him, ‘Man, you’re the guy we wanted here, let’s go. You’ve done a ton of things well,’” Payton
said. “But I think there’s a lot that goes into that.”
Nix and the Broncos (3-2) will go under the microscope in prime time Thursday with a tilt against the defending champion Seattle Seahawks (3-2), coming off a home loss to the San Francisco 49ers, in what could have been the Super Bowl matchup eight months prior.
One difference between then and now is that Nix has taken a step backward within the Broncos’ offense, according to ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky. During the Oct. 12 edition of “NFL Live,” Orlovsky described “significant” regression in timing and rhythm.
“You can’t live in this type of NFL offense,” Orlovsky said. “There’s no timing and rhythm to, right now, his feel in structure in the passing game.”
With the tape rolling, Orlovsky pointed out Nix moving into pressure despite being provided a clean pocket.
“We did not see this from him (in the past),” Orlovsky said.
There is still a disconnect between Nix and the QB he is and the QB he is trying to be/they want him to be in @Broncos #nfllive pic.twitter.com/RzBfhzVWTV
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) October 13, 2026
According to Next Gen Stats, no quarterback in the league throws from further back in the pocket than Nix, who at 9.05 yards of average depth upon his release is nearly a half-yard deeper than the next-closest quarterback (Caleb Williams, 8.58 yards).
Those aren’t the only damning numbers for Nix, Webb – stripped of play-calling duties four games into the assignment – and Payton. The Broncos averaged 3.7 yards per rush and 4.6 yards per pass attempt against the Chargers. Denver's offense (-11.1 expected points added) turned in its second-worst marks of the season in EPA per play and success rate.
Simplifying his process is a way he can improve, Nix told reporters this week. He’s on board with the “let it rip” mentality.
“Let’s play fast, and let’s roll,” the 26-year-old said. “I think sometimes I can have a tendency of overanalyzing and overthinking things, and that’s when I’m not at my best. I want to have all the answers and get everything right, and it’s too difficult – eleven guys moving on defense, it’s tough to always figure it out. I do think I can make the game simpler and just get back to, ‘One, two, checkdown,’ that sort of thing and making sure my reads are on point.”
Payton is aware that there are throws not being made that could lead to chunk plays, which his why he’s publicly encouraging his quarterback to let loose. He knows that Nix will have to rely on his play-making skills if the opposing defense takes away his reads as he moves through a standard progression.
“We’re always trying to find those plays that are clean, that kind of unfold versus the coverage you want,” Payton said. “To answer your question, a lot of it, you’re really paying attention to the game you’re in too, relative to risk. I think that that’s something that his experience, certainly at Oregon, has helped him.
“It’s bumpy. We’re constantly grinding to calm it down and create some matchups in some – call it first or second in the progression throws, that make it less risky."
By that, Payton means he doesn’t always want his quarterback to play like their team is trailing by 17 in the fourth quarter, “where now you’re playing in a different type of game relative to the throws you’re making.”
“So, there is that happy medium I think,” Payton said.
Nix reiterated that he is confident in his preparation, the Broncos’ coaching and the talent around him. He finished 16-of-27 passing against Los Angeles for 123 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions, but two fumbles (one lost).
“It’s just playing each play as it comes,” Nix said. “When it’s there, hit it.”
In Nix’s mind, a few extra plays being made over the first five weeks of the season that would flip the perception of his performance. He’s been reminding himself that playing hero ball isn’t always the right play – and that the answer is often in front of him.
“Next thing you know, stat line looks different,” Nix said.
He’s also grappling with the reality that mistakes happen. No quarterback can be perfect.
“At the end of the day, who cares? … Just play the play,” Nix said.
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton was quick to acknowledge the pressure facing Nix. For the Broncos to experience the success they want, Sutton said, “we need (Nix) to be able to have that success.”
“You ask any of the guys in the locker room, everyone has that same mentality of wanting to have each other’s back,” Sutton told reporters. “Especially when it comes to (Nix), I think that we all have that mentality of wanting to make sure that he feels comfortable, confident to be able to go out there and play fast.”
Nix understands that confronting critiques is part of the gig.
“Playing good, playing bad, it’s a narrative, and I think it’s honestly something we kind of make up,” Nix said.
Media folks have a job to do too, he added.
"I guess sometimes they can say whatever they want and unfortunately, I can’t say whatever I want back,” Nix said with a laugh.
Nix can talk with his play, though – starting in prime time against the defending champs.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sean Payton has a simple request to get Broncos QB Bo Nix back on track
