nbcsports
The Denver Broncos secured an overtime victory against the defending Super Bowl champions on Thursday night, but the win came with a glaring caveat: the team's offense remains underwhelming.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, speaking on Prime Video's postgame coverage, directed sharp criticism at quarterback Bo Nix, stating that the young signal-caller is not performing at a competitive level.
"Bo Nix is not playing competitively," Fitzpatrick said, his tone growing more animated. "It's almost disrespectful to the quarterback position how he's playing quarterback right now. He has no trust from his coach, he calls a screen play on third and eight."
Fitzpatrick acknowledged the Broncos' excitement in the locker room but stressed that Nix's individual performance remains a concern. "He's not playing competitive football right now," he added. "I can only imagine how Sean Payton feels. I mean, Sean Payton, [offensive coordinator] Davis Webb, everybody that blocks for him. He's not competing right now. And that's something that he's hung his hat on for the last two years. I don't know if he's still injured. I don't know what's going on. But it's not good enough. It's effort."
Later in the broadcast, Fitzpatrick elaborated further on his critique. "Well, there's no fire and there's no passion," he said. "And that doesn't mean you've got to be yelling at guys on the sideline or inspiring in the huddle. You can do it with your play as well. And I just don't see it. And I just think that he needs to be sat down and they need to tell him being a quarterback in the NFL is a very special thing. And right now he's taking it for granted. He is. And there's a lot of guys that have played this game that watch that game that think, 'That right there is garbage. That effort is garbage. That is not a quarterback in the NFL. We deserve better.'"
Statistically, Nix finished the game completing 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions, posting a passer rating of 71.1. Denver's offense managed only 168 total yards, while Seattle accumulated 353.
It remains uncertain whether head coach Sean Payton will publicly address Nix's performance. Payton may have pointed remarks privately, and if the issues persist, the situation could escalate. With Nix in his third season, the upcoming offseason will be pivotal, as he becomes eligible for a second contract. The Broncos will eventually face a decision: pay him market value or move on. Not every team wants to delay or settle for a mid-level contract for an average player. To consistently win and compete for championships, having a franchise-caliber quarterback is essential.
Originally reported by nbcsports.