It took three games, but Bo Nix finally led the Denver Broncos to their first victory of the 2024 season, defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26-7 in Week 4. After struggling in the first two outings, Nix found his groove against a typically tough Buccaneers defense. He completed 69.4% of his passes for 216 yards, avoided turnovers, and added 47 rushing yards with a touchdown on nine carries.
In the postgame press conference, Nix shared his thoughts on the significance of the win: “You only get this moment one time, and it’s not easy winning games in this league. Our guys deserve this. We’ve been close in the last two games, and to get this win against a tough team, it gives us confidence moving forward.”
Nix has now completed 62.8% of his passes for 600 yards this season. While he hasn’t thrown for a touchdown yet, he has rushed for two scores. He credited head coach Sean Payton for setting the tone early with aggressive play-calling, which helped the Broncos get off to a fast start.
Payton revealed his strategy, explaining that he wanted to “send a message” with the opening drive. The Broncos elected to receive the ball after winning the coin toss and immediately attacked the Buccaneers’ defense with a deep pass from Nix to Courtland Sutton, which went for 22 yards. This was part of a 70-yard opening drive that culminated in a touchdown, setting the tempo for the game.
“He wanted to be aggressive,” Nix said about Payton’s decision. “We came out and did exactly what we wanted. That opening drive set the tone for the rest of the game.”
Sutton echoed Nix’s sentiment, sharing his excitement about Payton’s decision to receive the ball first. “It caught me off guard, but I knew what the first play was going to be. When we won the toss and chose to receive, I was ready. It was our time to make something happen.”
Sutton finished the game with seven receptions for 68 yards. Both he and Nix are still looking for their first touchdown through the air and will aim to break that streak when the Broncos face the New York Jets in Week 5.
Payton’s decision to start aggressively paid off, loosening up the Buccaneers’ defense. “This is a team that’s hard to run against,” Payton explained. “We wanted to be aggressive early and run it later in the game, and that’s exactly what we did.”
Running back Tyler Badie led the Broncos’ rushing attack with nine carries for 70 yards, most of which came in the second half as the Broncos sealed their victory. The win provided a much-needed boost for the Broncos as they aim to build momentum for the rest of the season.
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