Bo Nix was One of NFL's Best QBs When Blitzed in 2025
Bo Nix was one of the best QBs in the NFL when blitzed in 2025, a huge positive moving into 2026. But he needs to improve over the middle of the field.
Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix was one of the NFL's best when under duress.
Don't blitz Nix; the dude will light you up.
And while that was a huge positive of his game—much like him being No. 1 in negative play rate last year—Nix has room for improvement in multiple areas including throwing the ball over the middle of the field.
Bo Nix was Top-10 in NFL When Blitzed
Bo Nix doesn't take sacks or turn the ball over, but even more than that, he's great against the blitz too.
According to this post by BTB Analytics on Reddit, Nix was 9th in the NFL in EPA per dropback when blitzed last year.
Bring The House, Pay The Price? How every NFL QBs performed against the blitz in 2025
by u/BTB-Analytics in nfl
His EPA per dropback increased about 0.15 per play according this chart, although the exact numbers are hard to read.
According to RBSDM, Nix's EPA/play was .101 last year which was 17th. So for him to jump to 9th-best is enough to raise an eyebrow.
And to be honest, advanced stats haven't favored Nix to this point in his career. For instance, when it came to the EPA and PFF grade average, he was 22nd at the end of last season. He was also 29th in air yards conversion rate last year and 25th in success rate.
So, it's a huge win that he's excelling against the blitz. Here's hoping that continues this year.
Look down that chart a bit and you know who didn't play well against the blitz last year? Patrick Mahomes.
The difference when he was blitzed was a whopping -0.4 EPA, which was the third-worst differential behind J.J. McCarthy and rookie Cam Ward. That blitz and sack by Ja'Quan McMillian on 3rd down late in the win over Kansas City in Denver immediately comes to mind.
For Nix, he can continue to beat the blitz the same way he has the last two years and likely even improve in Year 3.
For one, the short passing game certainly helps. It's a way to get the ball out of his hands quickly and into a receiver's. Then there's being able to escape with his legs when a blitz is coming after him. That's deadly. And it's already been said ad nauseam this offseason, but Jaylen Waddle should help Bo Nix even against the blitz. Waddle is a great receiver over the middle of the field, which is where Nix struggles.
Broncos QB Needs to Improve Over the Middle
He can start to improve those advanced stats by finding receivers between the numbers.
In April, I wrote a piece about Bo Nix's red flags. One is his inability to throw over the middle.
His intermediate throws were his lowest-graded in terms of passer rating (64.9) when compared to behind the line of scrimmage, short, and deep balls. And his 73.3 grade from Pro Football Focus made it his second-worst depth in 2025. It should be noted that grade improved a lot (59.4) vs. 2024, but is still a bit worrisome. Including that those intermediate throws represented 6 interceptions of his 11 on the season.
When we look at not only the intermediate depth, but the between-the-hashmarks numbers, his 65.5 passer rating was the worst of any quadrant on the passing chart. The only place he was lower rated by PFF was on intermediate throws to the right.
During her most recent podcast, Mina Kimes talked of Nix's struggles between the hashmarks when she previewed the entire AFC West.
The good news? She believes (correctly) that the Broncos have the best roster in the division.
The bad news? Competing for a Super Bowl hinges on Nix's play and he's struggled over the middle of the field.
"He's been given, now, everything he needs," Kimes said of Nix. "Specifically, there are areas of his game where Waddle fills in the gaps; you talk about yards after the catch. But one thing I don't feel like gets talked about as much with Nix as Hurts and Penix; he really doesn't throw over the middle of the field.
Last year, 5th-lowest percentage between the numbers. And then, when he did, just on a rate basis he was 31st in CPOE, 30th in first down rate, 28th in on-target rate. So, not good. And he was very good by the way on go balls to Courtland Sutton."
There are more of those dreaded analytics.
The redeeming part of it is this; Jaylen Waddle will help Nix improve in the middle of the field. It was true when the Broncos signed Waddle, and now Kimes is saying it too.
"Jaylen Waddle between the numbers has been a monster...I really maintain if you just watch Waddle, he is the perfect between the numbers player. Because he's that perfect combination of fast and strong. He's not the biggest guy but he's really strong and tough and then gets you yards after the catch.
So, when we talk about Bo Nix; can he take that third year leap? Waddle to me was like not the perfect player but about as good as it gets toward addressing some of the things he struggled at."
The added benefit is Waddle is a deep threat, too. To go along with the arsenal of multiple deep ball guys already on the roster.
Rich Kurtzman
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Bo NiX-factor
Bo Nix is the Broncos x-factor. Multiple publications have said it, and analysts across America are putting the onus on the quarterback when it comes to being a contender again. Or not.
Nix has to take a big step forward in Year 3.
Yes, even if he played at the same level as last year, the Broncos would likely be playoff-bound. But if he takes a leap, they can legitimately win it all this year.
His deep passing is one area where he can improve, along with the intermediate throws; really anything over 10 yards. And he likely will.
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Rich Kurtzman was born and raised in Denver Colorado and attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins in the aughts. He's been a professional writer since 2011, covering Colorado State football and men's basketball, as well as the Denver Broncos, for many outlets. Current Denver Broncos work can be found on Mile High Sports. Previous credits include CBS Denver and The USA TODAY Sports Media Group.
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