The Denver Broncos took a brutal 33-13 preseason defeat against the Green Bay Packers on August 21, marking their first preseason loss in three seasons. While the final score definitely stings, rookie quarterback Bo Nix delivered precisely what the Broncos hoped for from him and the offense, leading the team on two drives that accounted for 10 of Denver’s total points.
Bo Nix’s Instant Impact and Officiating Woes
Bo Nix hit the field for the first time since January, and his highly anticipated return kicked off with a five-yard run. His next pass, a high outside throw to Courtland Sutton, resulted in an insane toe-tap catch initially ruled incomplete. Seriously, the officiating crew somehow missed Sutton getting both toes in bounds with control, even on replay! Typical NFL officiating, right? That glaring non-call must have lit a fire under Nix, because on the very next play, he launched a deep ball to Jaylen Waddle for a massive 35-yard gain, pushing Denver deep into Packers territory. Just three plays later on a third and six, Nix found RJ Harvey wide open on a wheel route, delivering a gorgeous 21-yard touchdown strike that tied the game up immediately. What a start! Nix finished that drive an efficient 3 for 5 with 60 yards and a touchdown.
Stidham Stumbles, Packers Take Control
Unfortunately, Nix’s spark was overshadowed by the struggles that followed. Jarrett Stidham had a very rough go at it through the second and third quarters, a big reason Green Bay stacked up points and ran away with the game. Earlier, the Packers’ opening drive saw Jordan Love nearly throwing an immediate interception to Riley Moss, who stepped right in front of Christian Watson. Just an incompletion, but Moss was there. On the very next snap, Pat Surtain got beaten on a slant, but drove his fist into the ball, knocking it loose for Moss to recover. The officiating crew, again, ruled the receiver down by contact, and replay confirmed it looked instant on both counts, so the offense got the call. After a couple of run stuffs and Nik Bonitto getting drawn offsides, Bonitto redeemed himself instantly with a pressure right into Love’s face, forcing an incompletion on third down. But on fourth down, Love found a wide-open receiver on a cross for a 20-yard gain with Surtain in coverage, driving into the red zone. They ran “a million plays” inside the 20 before finally converting a third and long for a touchdown, capping a monster 12-play, 66-yard opening drive. Love’s night was done after that, with Tyrod Taylor coming in, but Denver’s first-team defense easily dispatched that drive to get the ball back.
Stidham needs to bounce-back big time and have a strong preseason finale next week. After a deflating loss and seeing their preseason streak snapped, Broncos fans will be glued to that next game, hoping for more glimpses of Bo Nix’s potential to carry that momentum into the regular season.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Mile High Report.
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