When the Denver Broncos won one-score games regularly last season and Bo Nix led multiple furious comebacks, talk suggested he might be the best quarterback selected in the 2024 NFL draft. But losing games in the NFL changes things in a hurry.
After a loss to the San Francisco 49ers last Sunday, Nix has drawn harsh criticism throughout the media and within Broncos Country.
After another game in which the offense just couldn't get it going and Nix wasn't able to turn it on until later in the second half (again), fans are beginning to question whether the Broncos have the right man for the job (again).
I’m done with…
— James Merilatt (@jamesmerilatt) October 4, 2026
Sean Payton (it’s his offense)
Davis Webb (he adds nothing)
Bo Nix (he’s mediocre)
Former NFL quarterback turned ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky
shared his thoughts on NFL Live and placed much of the blame for the Broncos' current offensive struggles squarely at the feet of their starting quarterback.
If you’re @Broncos you wanna figure out why these aren’t being thrown by Nix#nfllive pic.twitter.com/UjUih1oX5m
— Dan Orlovsky (@danorlovsky7) October 5, 2026
When asked if it might help to hear Sean Payton in his ear again calling plays, Orlovsky had this to say in response:
"Sure, but I would tell you this: Those clips, specifically the first two, Bo's run those for ten years. Those are basic concepts that he should be seeing and for some reason... he's either not seeing it, or he's seeing it and doesn't want to throw it."
Orlovsky was also a guest on The Pat McAfee Show and also discussed Nix's most recent performance on that program.
"I think great play-callers have a rare ability to figure out a way to get QBs in rhythm..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 5, 2026
There's a disconnect right now early on in games with this Broncos offense and that's the biggest issue..
Yesterday was more on Bo Nix not pulling the trigger" ~ @danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/jiB0rMcAiT
"I'll say this about yesterday's game," said Orlovsky. "There are five clips from the first half of yesterday's game, three of them big plays, where I'm sitting there saying, 'Bo throw the ball,' that are open, the design gets them open, they're big plays down the field and he just does not throw the football."
Nix was asked about the topic following Wednesday's practice.
“Yes, absolutely,” Nix said when asked if there are some plays he wants back from the Niners game. “There’s never been a game that I’ve played that I didn’t want to have a couple back. There were a couple of plays where I wanted to make a throw, or maybe not pull the trigger or throw it to somebody else. That’s just unfortunately what I’ve learned is that you could play out of your mind, and I’d still go home thinking about one or two plays that are just driving me crazy.
"So it’s sort of a never-satisfied game, and that’s one thing you have to be careful with this job, is working so hard and not ever being satisfied. For us, obviously it’s all about winning. It’s all about putting our team in the best situation possible. So for me, there are definitely several things that I want to change, and I want to get better at. That’s going to happen. It’s going to come over time.”
Nix will get his next chance to win back some support from the fanbase and those in the media when the Broncos travel to SoFi Stadium to face the winless Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: Dan Orlovsky says Bo Nix is leaving plays on the field: ‘Throw the ball’
