Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix exceeded expectations in his rookie season and helped lead his team to the playoffs. In the process, he became one of the NFL’s most polarizing passers.
How good was Bo Nix’s rookie season? Well, it stands up against the season Patrick Mahomes just had — at least in one blind comparison from the Super Bowl’s media festivities.
Kansas City Chiefs Players Unknowingly Pick Bo Nix Instead of Patrick Mahomes
The DNVR Broncos X account posted a video where they posed a simple question to several Kansas City Chiefs. They asked them to pick their favorite quarterback based on two statistics — touchdowns and interceptions.
Player A had 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions this season. Player B had 29 touchdowns with 12 picks.
A majority of the Chiefs players who received the question answered they’d take Player B. The lone Chiefs player who gave Player A the edge said he only picked him by a slim margin.
Readers probably know where this is going.
Kansas City Chiefs players would take Bo Nix OVER Pat Mahomes 👀
Presented By: @bet365_us pic.twitter.com/YDO1Xdn10Y
— DNVR Broncos (@DNVR_Broncos) February 5, 2025
Player A was Mahomes while Player B was Nix.
Every Chiefs player in the video had a good laugh after discovering they chose their rival’s quarterback ahead of the three-time Super Bowl MVP. Hopefully, Mahomes will forgive them in time for Super Bowl 59.
Mahomes Outperformed Nix in PFN’s QB+ Metric
While the video from DNVR Broncos was a fun exercise, it only worked because they cherry-picked two basic statistics. In other categories this season, Mahomes outperformed Nix by a little wider margin.
Mahomes posted a 67.5% completion percentage and 3,928 passing yards while averaging 6.8 yards per pass. Nix had a 66.3% completion percentage with 3,775 passing yards and 6.7 yards per attempt.
By PFN’s QB+ metric, Mahomes finished 10th.
“Mahomes, who has posted a similar QB+ over the last two seasons, is still clearly not playing at the same level he was earlier in his career. Yet, the way this team is built means he has to adapt his style. His 47.8% third-down conversion rate leads the NFL, and at times, it feels like the march to the end zone is inevitable when the Chiefs are driving,” wrote PFN.
“The biggest concern in Mahomes’ numbers this season has been a 0.25 EPA/DB from a clean pocket, which ranks 18th. The other numbers are good without being special, and his 11 interceptions leave much to be desired.”
Nix ended the 2024 campaign 18th by QB+. That placed him behind other middle-of-the-road quarterbacks like Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.
“Nix finishes the year 20th in EPA/DB (0.03), 18th in third-down conversion rate (38.7), and 26th in nYPA (6.3),” PFN explained. “He also ranked outside the top 20 in both EPA/DB from a clean pocket (0.19; 22nd) and when pressured (-0.36; 21st).
“That’s not to knock Nix, but just to put into context how far from the average his Week 18 performance was in terms of setting expectations entering 2025.”
Nix earned a C grade in both the regular season and playoffs by QB+. Mahomes earned a B grade in the regular season and playoffs, but according to PFN, he played his best game of the season in the AFC Championship Game.
It was also Mahomes’ best grade for any playoff game of his career.
That’s why Mahomes and the Chiefs are one win away from a three-peat. When the lights are the brightest, Mahomes is going to be at his very best. He’ll get one more opportunity to prove that point on Sunday.