Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-08 · by Arnie Stapleton The Associated Press
Bo Nix, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is not considering advice from TV analysts Dan Orlovsky and Kurt Warner who suggest he's being too cautious in his play-calling during games. Instead, Nix emphasizes listening to his coaches and teammates rather than external critics. The article highlights that Nix has thrown for an average of only 204.8 yards per game and rushed for just 25 total yards this season, leading analysts to question why he isn't throwing the ball downfield more often.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-08,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Bo Nix, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, is facing criticism from TV analysts like Dan Orlovsky and Kurt Warner over his conservative play-calling during a recent loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The analysts suggest that Nix is too risk-averse, often choosing short passes instead of longer throws that could potentially score points. Despite this critique, Nix asserts that he relies solely on his coaches and teammates for advice rather than TV experts when it comes to tactical decisions during games. The Broncos currently have a record of 2-2, with Nix averaging just 204.8 yards per game passing, significantly lower than expected, and has only rushed for a total of 25 yards this season.
Written for “Nfl Quarterback Advice Rejection” on 2026-10-08,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — Bo Nix is searching for answers to the Denver Broncos’ offensive struggles but isn’t taking any advice from quarterbacks-turned-TV-analysts like Dan Orlovsky and Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, who suggested he’s risk-averse right now and too impatient to let plays develop.
uncertain
plays → search → Famer
“Maybe for some certain life situations you can listen to older, more mature people, but when it comes to X’s and O’s, it’s all about our coaches and our players,” Nix said Wednesday.
asserted
Nix → listen → coaches
ESPN’s Orlovsky and NFL Network’s Warner analyzed Denver’s 24-14 loss at San Francisco on Sunday and led a chorus of critics who found several examples of Nix checking down to his running backs too quickly.
asserted
Nix → analyze → backs
Both of the analysts suggested the solution isn’t for coach Sean Payton to take back play-calling duties from offensive coordinator Davis Webb but for the Broncos (2-2) to decipher what’s going on with Nix, who also has appeared reluctant to tuck the ball and run it himself, curtailing his dual-threat traits.
uncertain
who → suggest → traits
Nix has thrown for just 204.8 yards per game and he’s rushed for a total of 25 yards.
asserted
he → throw → yards
“I think the question for him and Davis Webb — because it’s not on Davis Webb this game — is: ‘Why aren’t you throwing the ball downfield when I’m creating chunk throws?’” Orlovsky asked, showing a trio of examples.
asserted
Orlovsky → think → examples
“These are basic concepts that he should be seeing and for some reason he’s either not seeing or he sees it and doesn’t want to throw it.”
asserted
he → see → it
Warner broke down five first-half plays from Sunday “and there were huge opportunities on those five plays for Bo Nix to make a throw and set them up for points, set them up inside the red zone, maybe get some big-play touchdowns — and he passed on all of them.”
asserted
he → break → them
“It’s just like I was talking about Kyler Murray being impatient when he gets to the top of his drop,” Warner said on “The Rich Eisen Show.”
asserted
Warner → talk → Show
“This is something I’ve seen with Bo really throughout his career, he’s a guy that when he gets to the top of his drop, he wants to move, he wants to create, he wants to throw on the run.
asserted
he → see → run
He feels more confident there and ... so he misses opportunities that are coming to him within the structure of the play that’s called because he’s impatient with it.”
asserted
he → feel → it
Late in games, as evidenced by his dozen fourth-quarter comebacks, Nix’s style serves him well, creating off-schedule plays that pay off.
asserted
that → evidence → plays
“What Denver has to figure out,” Warner said, “is why is he playing a little more frantic early and how do we settle him down so he can make some of these plays and give us a better chance early in the game?”
asserted
he → figure → game
Such critiques haven’t been brought up to him at Broncos headquarters by his coach, play-caller or position coach Logan Kilgore, Nix said: “I haven’t heard that from them a whole lot this season, so that’s all I’m really worried about.”
asserted
I → bring → them
It’s those voices, and those of his teammates, that Nix said he’ll heed.
asserted
he → ’ → that
“I think when it comes to the X’s and O’s, my mom all the time, she’s like, ‘You all should’ve done this.
asserted
You → think → this
You all should’ve done that.’
asserted
You → do → that
I’m like, ‘Mom, you have no idea.
asserted
you → ’m → idea
Don’t even start,’” Nix said with a laugh.
asserted
Nix → start → laugh
“I think it’s just simply that.
asserted
it → think → ?
Not many people understand the plays that we’re putting into it, or the meetings.
asserted
we → understand → it
It’s just us.
asserted
It → ’ → ?
It’s our group that understands how we can get better and the ways in which we’re trying to attack defenses.”
asserted
we → ’ → defenses
One outside voice Nix does pay attention to is that of Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, whom Nix said often texts him after games, not so much with unsolicited advice but with “Keep your head up” type of messages.
asserted
Nix → pay → messages
Nix broke his right ankle during the playoffs last season, missed the AFC championship game and needed two operations.
asserted
Nix → break → operations
But he said the reason he’s not running the ball as much this season is “because I’m seeing the field better and I know where my outlets are and I’m getting to them faster.
asserted
I → say → them
I think that’s just a product of being in the system for three years.”
asserted
that → think → years
“I love running the football,” he said.
asserted
he → run → football
“I feel great.
asserted
I → feel → ?
I’m healthy.
asserted
I → ’m → ?
I feel as good as I’ve felt in a long time.”
asserted
I → feel → time
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