After Denver defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-26 on Sunday to become the first AFC team to clinch a postseason berth by winning its 11th game in a row, quarterback Bo Nix called it an “exciting time to be a Bronco.”
At 12-2, Denver has a one-game lead on the New England Patriots for the top spot in the AFC playoff field, with the No. 1 seed set to receive a first-round bye.
“This was our first goal,” Nix said. “We wanted to get to the playoffs. That’s the only way to get further is to make the tournament, so we’re excited about that. That was Goal No. 1. We were able to accomplish that tonight. And then this next week, it’s going after Goal No. 2, and that’s worrying about our next opponent and finding a way to get the best out of our season and get the best situation in the postseason.”
FOR MORE OF AL.COM’S COVERAGE OF THE NFL, GO TO OUR NFL PAGE
Nix completed 23-of-34 passes for 302 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions against Green Bay, which entered the game leading the NFC North with a 9-3-1 record.
Nix has three games with at least 300 passing yards and four touchdown passes. Only four players in NFL history have more 31 starts into their careers – Patrick Mahomes with six, Dan Marino with five and Kurt Warner and Matthew Stafford with four apiece.
A former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn standout, Nix has been the starting quarterback in 22 Denver victories. The only quarterback to produce more wins in his first two seasons is Russell Wilson with 24. The Broncos have three games remaining on their regular-season schedule.
“The thing about him is, like, he loves playing,” Denver coach Sean Payton said about Nix. “And so that’s contagious. And that’s a really good trait for a player at his position, and his teammates feel that. …
“I mean, there’s just a competitive nature about him that’s refreshing.”
On Sunday, the Packers took a 23-14 lead when former Alabama running back Josh Jacobs got loose for a 40-yard touchdown run with 13:59 left in the third quarter.
After the Denver offense went three-and-out, another Alabama alumnus turned the tide for the Broncos. Cornerback Patrick Surtain II picked off a 50-yard throw by Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love, and Denver rode the momentum to three consecutive touchdown drives.
“It was huge,” Nix said of Surtain’s interception. “I think a play like that, any sudden turnover, just gets some adrenaline, gets some emotion back in the game. They come out and score, we go three-and-out, it wasn’t a great start to the third quarter. …
“But man, he went after that football, got it, and that’s when I felt like it kind of starting falling back on our side – the momentum did. It got the crowd back into it, and when our crowd’s going, it’s a really hostile environment.”
On the three scoring series, Nix completed 11-of-17 passes for 176 yards with two touchdowns. Nix also had a 2-yard run on fourth-and-1 and a 26-yard completion on fourth-and-2 to keep drives going.
Nix’s 14-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Courtland Sutton cut Green Bay’s lead to 23-21 with 9:07 left in the third quarter, and his 23-yard touchdown pass to Troy Franklin produced the fifth and final lead change of the game as the Broncos went ahead 27-23 on the final snap of the third quarter.
In their next game, the Broncos play another division leader when they square off against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 3:05 p.m. CST Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver.
The Jaguars lead the AFC South with a 10-4 record, one game ahead of the Houston Texans. The Broncos are two games ahead of the Los Angeles Chargers in the AFC West.
