Payton amazed by Bo Nix’s sick TD: ‘He keeps getting better’

The touchdown throw Bo Nix tossed during Denver's Sunday Night wild 27-26 overtime win over the Washington Commanders was straight out of John Elway's bag

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

Nov 30, 2025, 11:13 PM Updated: Dec 1, 2025, 2:51 am

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Watch: Whether You Doubt Them Or Believe In Them, Bo Nix And The Broncos ARE Who You Thought They Were | 9 mins

This week at practice, Bo Nix was asked about comparisons to Denver Broncos legend John Elway; the current Orange and Blue gunslinger humbly shook that talk off. But the touchdown throw Nix tossed during Denver’s Sunday Night wild 27-26 overtime win over the Washington Commanders was straight out of Elway’s bag.

Down a point just before the half and near the goal line Nix took a shotgun snap and didn’t like his first read. He stepped up and out of the pocket to the right, but then came a hefty arm tackle from veteran Preston Smith. Just as Nix was falling to the field, he unleashed a line-drive strike into the end zone into a tight window that found a sprinting Courtland Sutton coming across the field. The touchdown strike was quite possibly the best play of the second-year quarterback’s career yet.

“End of a half, those critical moments — that was an it was an amazing throw,” Sean Payton said after the game. “We were worried his knee was down, but he had good poise, good command, and was smart.”

Cris Collinsworth on the Bo Nix TD throw: “That’s one of the tremendous plays we’ve seen all season long!” 🏈🎙️ #NFL #SNF https://t.co/QscHxuJw52 pic.twitter.com/HTF4OfF8uw

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 1, 2025

“That’s one of the tremendous plays we’ve seen all season long,” Cris Collinsworth said on the broadcast after Nix scrambled for over 10 yards to hit Sutton on the connection, which had just a 31% chance of being a completion, according to Next Gen Stats.

“From my perspective, it just kind of feels like you’re floating for a second. But I was obviously a little bit close to being down, but I stayed up just long enough, and he (Courtland) did a great job,” Nix explained what he saw on the play. “He started on the other side of the field and ran all the way to the other side. So he just scrambled with me and got open in a game like that. That’s what we literally talk about game of inches. But it really is, comes down to an inch or two.”

Nix finished with 321 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, plus another 16 yards on the ground. He hit Evan Engram on a big play early in overtime to set up what ended up being the game-winning touchdown from RJ Harvey.

“You’re seeing his confidence carry over, and he’s just getting better and better, and we’re operating better,” Payton said of Nix.