Bo Nix might need to be benched if he has a bad game against the Cardinals

Bo Nix isn’t being benched according to Sean Payton on Monday, but 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis says the conversation could get real if Nix struggles against the 2-4 Cardinals.

Sean Payton didn’t leave much room for debate on Monday. Asked whether he was considering sitting Bo Nix, even for a short stretch, the Broncos head coach shut the question down right away. Nix will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

That settles this week. It doesn’t settle the bigger question.

On a recent edition of “Stokley and Evans, with Mark Schlereth” on 104.3 The Fan, 9News Broncos insider Mike Klis joined the show, and Mike Evans asked what Payton’s answer really meant.

“Sean Payton came out yesterday and really just kind of, you know, downplayed the whole question about benching Bo Nix. That was for public consumption. What are you hearing? What’s the talk behind the scenes in that building about the level of confidence in Bo right now?” Evans asked.

Klis said the answer depends on the week.

“Well they’re not talking about it this week. We’ll see next,” Klis said.

That’s a notable shift from the usual line on a franchise quarterback. A year ago, the idea of benching Nix wouldn’t have come up at all. He had led Denver to the AFC’s top seed and an AFC Championship appearance. Now the people who cover the team every day are treating a benching as possible.

Klis admitted his own view has changed.

“We talked about it last week right. And I said, ‘No way, no way, no way. He’s gonna play better.’ And then he played worse,” Klis said.

That’s what changed the conversation. Last week, Klis expected Nix to bounce back. Instead, Bo Nix completed 17 of 27 passes for 107 yards in the 17-14 overtime win over Seattle, the second-worst passing game of his career. The Broncos are 4-2, but their offense ranks 31st in the NFL in yards per game and 26th in scoring. Mark Schlereth said after the Seattle game that a short break might be the best thing for Nix, and Cecil Lammey said Payton will either fix him or ruin him.

Klis thinks Sunday will tell the Broncos a lot.

“It’s brought up now, and I think, you know, if he lays an egg against Arizona, you have to think about it right? I mean, you have to think about it,” Klis said.

The opponent is part of why. Arizona is 2-4, and Denver has just finished a six-game stretch against some of the best teams in football. Bo Nix has had excuses this season: a returning ankle, a new play caller, then a change back to Payton calling plays, and a schedule full of strong defenses. Against the Cardinals, most of those excuses go away. If the offense still can’t move the ball against one of the league’s weaker teams, Payton won’t be able to dismiss the question so easily next Monday.

Klis isn’t predicting a benching. He’s saying the Broncos would have to consider it if Nix plays poorly again. Jarrett Stidham is the backup, and his AFC Championship start last season isn’t something Denver wants to relive. That’s one reason Payton is likely to give Nix every chance.

Payton answered for this week. Sunday’s game will help answer the next one. A good game from Bo Nix would quiet the talk. Another bad one, against a team this beatable, would make it a lot louder.

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