Denver quarterback Bo Nix has drawn criticism from multiple analysts for his latest performance during the Broncos’ Week 6 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks. Nix had one of the worst games in his NFL career, completing 17 of 27 passes for a measly 107 yards, no touchdowns, and no interceptions, while running four times for two yards against the Seahawks.

Three-time Super Bowl champion Mark Schlereth piled on with a harsh assessment of Nix’s current play and argued that the Broncos should sit him for a while.

Ex-NFL Guard Critical of Bo Nix’s Performances

Broncos head coach Sean Payton took back the playcalling duties from first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb after relinquishing them earlier in the year. Nix has not improved much in the two games under Payton’s thumb either, tallying 230 passing yards and 1 touchdown.

During Friday’s segment of “The Herd” podcast, Schlereth was adamant that the Broncos’ offense has not improved under Payton and delivered a scathing assessment of Nix’s culpability in the ongoing issues.

“But that is direct correlation to your quarterback is afraid to push the ball down the field,” Schlereth remarked.

He continued, “He is playing as though he is scared; I don’t know if it’s the ankle, I don’t know what it is. If the first read and the progression is not open, his eyes drop, he looks at the rush, he won’t get through progression, and I’m telling you, that San Francisco game was alarming.”

“Because in the first half of that game, there were six explosives that were designed in that game that Bo Nix hit none of them, and two of them should have been touchdowns. You should have walked into halftime with a 24-3 lead in that game alone. And last night was much the same,” Schlereth went on to explain.

After a surge of offensive brilliance in the second quarter against Seattle, Nix and the Broncos’ offense ran out of ideas, totaling six three-and-outs and allowing the Seahawks back into the contest. Denver’s impressive defense bailed out the offense, generating turnovers and ultimately preserving the win that improved them to 4-2.

Nix was unable to keep the chains moving against the Seahawks, and the Broncos generated just 168 total yards of offense, converting three of 14 third-down attempts.

The Seahawks, meanwhile, outgained Denver 353-168 but scored only 14 points, with three turnovers undermining their yardage advantage. This season, the Broncos have earned a PFN’s NFL Offense Impact grade of 70.0 (No. 27 in the NFL).

Schlereth further advised Payton on a radical course of action regarding Nix’s place in the Broncos’ offense.

“I think the best thing that can happen for Bo right now is he needs to sit for a while,” he recommended. “You need to sit him down. You need to say, ‘Hey, man, maybe it’s your ankle.’ You can take some of the pressure off, say the ankle’s not right, he doesn’t have confidence in it, whatever the case maybe. He needs to sit down and see it from a 30,000 foot view because this is unsustainable.”

Nix came into the season after a lofty No. 59 ranking in the NFL Top 100 Players list after registering 3,931 passing yards and 25 passing touchdowns in 2025.

In six games played for the Broncos this season, Nix has tallied 1,049 passing yards on 60.3% completion, six touchdowns, and three interceptions, earning a PFN’s NFL QB Impact grade of 66.5 (No. 29 in the league).