Bo Nix did it. In his rookie season, the former Oregon and Auburn star lifted the Denver Broncos to the NFL postseason, clinching an AFC wild card spot in Week 18 and clinching a matchup with the Buffalo Bills.
Nix did the unthinkable. He did what many thought he couldn't.
And after defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 38-0 with a historic performance, breaking the single-game franchise completion percentage previously held by Peyton Manning, social media gave Nix his flowers.
"Bo Nix was mocked at Auburn. Bo Nix was doubted at Oregon. Bo Nix was given no chance in the NFL. He just made the Playoffs as a Rookie. The Broncos have a legit Franchise QB. It is time to believe in Bo Nix," ESPN's Sam Block wrote.
"They laughed at the Broncos drafting Bo Nix. They said Sean Payton couldn’t coach anymore. They said Bo Nix was “cosplaying” in the pocket and called him a 'checkdown merchant,'" Predominantly Orange's Lou Scataglia prefaced before saying, " Well, 17 games later, they proved everyone wrong and have totally revived the Denver Broncos franchise. Onto the playoffs!!!"
Nix himself recognized that he was counted out before the season started speaking to a reporter postgame.
"Opening the season, nobody expected us to do this, but we didn't really listen to that," Nix said.
With the No. 12 pick in the 2024 draft, Sean Payton found his franchise QB. He never wavered in his support of Nix, even when the two had a memorable on-field argument in early October.
Now, Payton has one of the most promising rosters in the league. Even if the Broncos don't win a playoff game, which, with having the Bills in Buffalo in mid-January, is possible, this season was an undeniable success in Denver.
From the Plains, to the west coast, to the mountains, Nix has become a success story for the ages.