Sean Payton straight up said “no” when asked if he’s even considered benching Bo Nix, even after Prime Video’s Ryan Fitzpatrick dropped a “garbage” label on Nix’s performance. You saw that Thursday night overtime win the Broncos snagged over our Seahawks, right? Nix was out there, and the heat on him is officially dialed up.
Fitzpatrick Called It, But Payton Ain’t Listening
Look, after watching that Thursday night slugfest where the Broncos somehow squeaked out an overtime win against our boys, you couldn’t help but notice the QB play. Ryan Fitzpatrick certainly did, and he didn’t pull any punches, calling Bo Nix’s performance “garbage.” It’s not like the guy had a banner night, even in a win. But forget what Fitzpatrick, or any of us, thought. On Monday, when reporters cornered Payton and flat out asked about a quarterback change, the answer was a hard, definitive “no.” He wasn’t even going there.
Payton’s Plan: Blame The O-Line?
So, if Nix ain’t the problem, what is? According to Payton, Nix is just gonna “become the byproduct of all the finer things that get improved.” Translation? He’s looking at the offensive line getting better, and the run game finding more balance and efficiency. He even put it back on the coaching staff, saying it’s “our jobs as coaches here” to make those improvements. Payton admitted they were “excited to get that win” over our squad, but also focused on finding “improvement we need in all areas,” and that “it starts with all of us.” It’s a whole lot of team talk, but for a guy getting slammed as “garbage,” the message from the head coach is clear: Nix isn’t going anywhere.
Ignoring The Noise, Focusing On Arizona
When pressed about whether he pays attention to the media chatter, like Fitzpatrick’s blunt assessment, Payton kept it tight. “I try to focus on the next day here,” he said. “We’re trying to focus on getting ready to play Arizona. That’s kind of where our attention is.” He could’ve gone full rant mode, could’ve fired back at Fitzpatrick, but he chose to just shut it down. No drama, just eyes forward to the next game. For Nix, that’s gotta be a relief, even if it means the pressure cooker is staying on.
Now, it’s all about that Arizona game. Can Nix actually “improve” as the O-line and run game supposedly do? Or is Payton just playing political football? Either way, the league is watching how this plays out in Denver.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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