Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos finally broke out of their funk, racking up 30 points in a big 30-16 road win over the Arizona Cardinals. This was the kind of dominant, two-score victory they desperately needed, shutting down all the noise after a rough few weeks. But for anyone in the Emerald City watching, it also just confirmed what we already knew: our Hawks defense is for real, because Nix had a *very* different experience when he rolled into Lumen Field.
Nix Found a Groove, Just Not Against Us
Man, Bo Nix needed a game like this against the Cardinals. After a week and a half of being roasted in the media, with folks even asking if he should be benched, Nix totally responded. He led the offense to 30 points, and had multiple huge plays, including an absolutely insane 62-yard run where he hit nearly 20 miles per hour. That run instantly silenced all the questions about his ankle. He looked way more confident, starting the game by slinging it downfield for a 20-yard strike to Courtland Sutton. He kept that momentum going, delivering multiple long touchdown plays, including that 60-plus yard rushing score and a 50-plus yard screen pass to RJ Harvey. He put up 30 points and, at least for one week, probably shut up most of the haters.
Our “Talented Defense” Is The Real Story Here
It’s easy to forget, with all the buzz around Nix’s big day, that he *struggled* when he faced off against our Seahawks just a little while ago. Our “talented defense” made him work for every single inch. Sure, he managed to lead two touchdown drives against us, but even then, his overall performance was called “disrespectful.” And get this, if you need a reminder of what Mike Macdonald’s defense can do, just look at what happened to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs: they rolled into town and got absolutely stomped, losing 20-3 to our boys! That wasn’t just a fluke; that was our defense putting the clamps on one of the best quarterbacks in the league. We saw what Nix was up against, and then we watched our D humble the reigning champs.
Coleman Steps Up, Backups Stay Put
Beyond Nix, the Broncos saw some other stock climbing, especially in their backfield. Running back Jonah Coleman’s stock went WAY up. He was the Broncos’ main back on Sunday, leading the team in snaps (49%!), carries, and total yards with a solid 69. He averaged 6.0 yards per carry and looked like a true three-down back, showing off elite vision, a good short-area burst, power, and even being a threat in the passing game. Head coach Sean Payton told reporters after the game that he needs to give Coleman more touches moving forward, and honestly, who could argue with that? RJ Harvey also saw his stock go up, confirming he’s been their most explosive playmaker this season and had yet another impact. As for the backup QBs, Jarrett Stidham remains the veteran backup, and Sam Ehlinger is still the emergency third-stringer; their stock stayed unchanged.
The season is still young, but this Broncos win, especially when stacked against their earlier struggles, including the one against our Hawks, just underscores how formidable our own defense has become. That 20-3 smackdown of the Chiefs wasn’t just a win; it was a statement. The rest of the league is going to feel the force of the Emerald City’s D, and we can’t wait to see it.
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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