ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos have the most fourth-quarter comebacks in the NFL since the quarterback entered the league in 2024.
asserted
quarterback → have → 2024
That’s proof of his late-game moxie — he can work his way out of any jam — and, in part, a product of his early-game malaise.
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he → ’ → malaise
The Broncos have been outscored 40-10 in the first half this season.
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Broncos → outscore → half
But after halftime, Nix flips the script.
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Nix → flip → script
He has 10 career final-quarter rallies on his resume, including last weekend when he led the Broncos back from a 16-0 halftime deficit for a 30-26 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
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he → have → Rams
Coming from behind week after week, though, is not exactly a reliable game plan.
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Coming → come → week
That’s why the Broncos (2-1) are trying to buck their slow-start trend.
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Broncos → ’ → trend
“I think it’s just all about execution right now,” said Nix, whose team plays at San Francisco (3-0) on Sunday.
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team → think → Sunday
“We have to sustain drives.
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We → have → drives
We have to get the first first down.
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We → have → down
Typically, once we do that, we have good success.
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we → do → success
I think we just have to stay on the field longer.
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we → think → field
It’s just early-down success right now, execution.”
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It → ’ → ?
To Nix’s point: The Broncos have had the ball 15 times in the first half this season and failed to pick up even one first down on seven of those drives.
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Broncos → fail → drives
In the second half, they’ve had at least one first down on 11 of 16 drives.
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they → have → drives
“Obviously, we want to be able to start faster and be able to put together four quality quarters of football,” receiver Courtland Sutton said.
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Sutton → want → football
“We are working on trying to be better in that aspect.
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We → work → aspect
“We are a really strong finishing team, but if we can pair together a fast start plus finishing strong, that is where I think the magic is going to come from.”
Improving the run game could be key to faster starts
uncertain
Improving → pair → starts
The solution may lie with something as simple as revamping the ground game.
uncertain
solution → lie → game
The team has 243 yards rushing this season, which is second worst in the NFL behind the Green Bay Packers (146).
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which → have → Packers
The backfield has been banged up with J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey dealing with ailments and Jonah Coleman currently on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
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Dobbins → bang → injury
Coach Sean Payton equated lackluster starts with an erratic rushing attack.
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Payton → equate → attack
This season, he handed the play-calling duties over to offensive coordinator Davis Webb, who said the team needs to “run with a little bit more conviction.”
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team → hand → conviction
“We’ve got to come out the gate obviously a lot faster,” Webb added.
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Webb → get → gate
“But man, you can’t argue the resiliency and what’s been basically the tradition here, in regards to coming out of halftime like their hair is on fire.
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hair → argue → fire
So hopefully we wake up with that intensity in San Francisco.
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we → wake → Francisco
It may be tricky given that the 49ers have yet to allow any points in the first quarter.
uncertain
49ers → give → quarter
However, they’ve surrendered 24 in the fourth.
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they → surrender → fourth
“We don’t panic,” said Nix, who’s 26-11 in the regular season as the starter.
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who → panic → starter
“Nobody really has to say much, but we’re all just motivating each other and encouraging each other.
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we → have → other
“Once you do it a few times, you just know you can do it.
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you → do → it
We all just get in the huddle like, ‘This is our time, guys.
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This → get → huddle
This is what we’ve built and what we’ve managed to become.’ ...
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we → build → what
It’s just doing it over and over and knowing I have the guys to go out there and go on a game-winning drive because we’ve done it against many, many good teams.”
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we → do → teams
Payton wants to win in every month
The Broncos are 10-3 in October under Payton, including 4-0 last season.
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Broncos → want → 4
Not that he puts too much stock in past numbers.
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he → put → numbers
“I think the coach in you says, ‘Man, why isn’t it better in September?’” Payton cracked.
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Payton → think → September
“So hopefully we can continue that.”
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we → continue → that
The Aporia
