The Mile High City is buzzing, and it’s not just the altitude talking. The Denver Broncos have a new sheriff in town, and his name is Bo Nix. But before we dive into this rookie sensation, let’s rewind to last season’s fireworks – and not the good kind.

Remember when Sean Payton looked like he was about to pop a vein yelling at Russell Wilson during that Jets game? That wasn’t just a bad day at the office; it was the culmination of a season-long struggle. As Nick Kosmider of The Athletic pointed out on The Rich Eisen Show last week, “Russell Wilson’s 100 sacks that he took in his last two years with the Denver Broncos” were enough to make any coach see red. But Payton? He saw a change coming.

Enter Bo Nix, the quarterback whisperer’s new protégé. Mark Schlereth, the Broncos legend, couldn’t contain his excitement on ‘The Stinkin Truth Podcast’. He boldly proclaimed yesterday, “This is the best quarterback head coach combination fit of anybody who got drafted this year.” High praise from a guy who’s seen his fair share of QB-coach tandems.

But what makes Nix so special? Well, for starters, he’s got more college starts under his belt than some NFL players have game-day suits. Schlereth broke it down: “Nobody in the history of college football has started more games in college than Bo Nix at 61.” That’s a lot of Saturday nights spent under the lights, folks.

And accuracy? Nix is hitting the bullseye more often than a seasoned archer. Schlereth couldn’t help but gush, “There’s nobody in the history of college football that’s been more accurate than Bo Nix’s 77-plus completion percentage rate last year.” These are the kind of stats that make defensive coordinators lose sleep.

Payton’s excitement is palpable, reminiscent of his early days with a certain future Hall of Famer in New Orleans. As Schlereth put it, “Sean Payton hasn’t had since Drew Brees retired… the excitement level and the level of belief that he has in Bo Nix’s ability to operate his offense.” This is a far cry from the Russell Wilson Denver debacle!

Bo Nix brings the ‘Brees’ Denver needed

Let’s face it, the Wilson-Payton relationship was about as smooth as a Rocky Mountain trail. That sideline blowup during the Jets game? It wasn’t just for the show. Wilson had fumbled at a crucial moment, and it was the third turnover of the game. Payton later tried to downplay it, saying he wanted to “make sure he [Wilson] knew the linebacker was a free-rusher.” But actions speak louder than words, and Payton’s actions were screaming.

Now here comes Bo Nix — a chill cucumber right around the corner to bring some zen to Denver’s offense. During his last year at Oregon, Nix only suffered 5 sacks the entire season and threw for an insane 4,145 yards. Not only good, but Drew Brees is in his prime good.

Former NFL QB Jordan Palmer shed some light on Nix’s mental toughness during an appearance on The Rich Eisen Show last month: “Bo Nix was on some bad Auburn teams and was blamed for a lot of it. His dad played there, he grew up there, that’s a lot of pressure. He has failed before and then went to Oregon and succeeded.”

It is not all about avoiding sacks and working under pressure. Nix offers a football intelligence that is through the roof. As Schlereth said, “From the neck up process, read and deliver the ball on time. Bo Nix is incredible at that.” It’s as if he has some supercomputer between his ears, reading defenses before you can even say “Omaha! Oh! “

And let’s not forget his preseason performance. Like completing 23-of-30 passes for 205 yards, and two touchdowns while not throwing any interceptions and avoiding being sacked? It’s a stat line that makes coaches want to break out the good whiskey.

Nix will be one of the focal points as the Broncos prepare for their season opener against Seattle. Will he be able to tackle the treacherous conditions of Lumen Field? Is he finally going to be the quarterback who helps fill that Manning-sized hole in Denver? Time will tell, but one thing is for certain — the Broncos have found their captain and he looks poised to guide them deeper into uncharted territory.