Renck: Broncos won, but Bad Bo Nix and Stubborn Sean Payton both have to be better, or they won’t finish the job

Bo Nix smiled on the sideline, arms around the shoulders of friends and relatives. He took 20 pictures with an endless stream of groups, one after another, never losing his patience.

Eventually, he held a baby in his arms — not his — as phones prepared to click. An object was waved — we have all been there — to get the infant to look toward the camera. Nix helped by clearing some drool off the baby’s chin.

At 6:39 p.m., as Nix, party of 30, walked out of the tunnel and into the night, it provided a reminder that it is hard to get the perfect snapshot as a quarterback and that, at his worst, Nix is still capable of cleaning up a mess.

The Broncos stumbled clumsily to a 31-13 victory over the Colts as they distanced themselves from their ugly past.

“Winning season,” said CEO owner Greg Penner, the franchise’s first since 2016, as he headed to the locker room.

Sunday signaled that the Broncos have exceeded expectations, that they are a single Thursday night victory against the Chargers away from reaching the playoffs. It also signaled something else.

Nix and coach Sean Payton have to be a lot better or this team runs the risk of missing the postseason altogether. You can beat an undisciplined, selfish Colts team that gifted two turnovers that would make Santa blush. But nobody else remaining on the schedule.

Bad Bo has to go. Trust me, he knows.

What unfolded on Sunday was the rookie we watched through winces during the first three weeks of the season. Nix struggled with his mechanics, returning to an old habit of hopping, of not setting his feet, leaving his passes off time and inaccurate. He fired three interceptions. He had four in his previous 11 games. He never lost his confidence, but he looked lost.

This is what is important to remember, especially for critics who love burying him in the offensive rookie of the year conversation. He had a bad game. He is not a bad player.

Rather than run from the statistics – 20 for 33, 130 yards — he contextualized them, showing vulnerability and honesty that will help him rebound over the final three weeks.

He has no choice. Buckle up, Bo. He recognizes the Broncos cannot win with him playing like this.

“You have to keep from being gun-shy. Don’t let one turn into another false vision and see things that aren’t actually there,” Nix explained. “I thought I saw the game well, so what is it? I have to keep from turning the ball over. I have to get back to the sideline and regroup, and I feel like they do a good job of keeping me encouraged. But I am not going to lie. It’s tough. You start getting a little bit in your head.”

This game is a watershed moment for Nix. Like this team, anchored by a sticky-fingered defense, he has outperformed all external projections. But those have been reframed. The Broncos are no longer viewed as wet-nosed mutts happy for any scrap. They sit in the sixth spot in the AFC playoff race, which, if it sticks, could put them in a delicious rematch at Pittsburgh against Russell Wilson. They have earned this.

But it is hard to feel too good about this one. The Colts don’t do anything particularly well defensively. Yet, the Broncos finished with 13 first downs and 193 yards of offense. This stage provided an opportunity for a breakout performance, instead, it was like the intoxicating chase scenes in “Bourne Identity” featuring turn signals and stops at red lights.

It was perplexing. It was confusing. And if not for the stupidity of Colts running back Jonathon Taylor dropping the ball before crossing the goal line on a 41-yard dash, it would have been nauseating. Nix was not alone. His receivers had a gaggle of drops and blown routes.

“I have no say on the sideline if they don’t catch a ball. I was doing nothing for them, not helping them at all. I would be kind of a loser if I said something,” Nix said. “As a group, we have to resettle and get back to the things we are good at.”

Which brings us to Payton. He deserves credit for changing the Broncos culture and putting them in this position to reach the postseason for the first time since Super Bowl 50. But this was Stubborn Sean, asking too much of his struggling quarterback like he did at Seattle, refusing to commit to the run against the league’s 31st rush defense.

The only thing worse than Nix was the ground game. Jaleel McLaughlin, Javonte Williams and Audric Estime, in a late cameo, combined for 48 yards on 18 carries. That is unacceptable, as is refusing to turn Williams into a third-down back (he has 16 yards on 18 attempts over his last three games).

Nix is no longer on his permit, but make no mistake, he still needs Payton punching in the directions on Google Maps.

“Listen, I get mad at myself. A couple of calls I gave him. … he had one read he knows better. It was one of those nights we were not efficient, (especially) against a zone defense like that,” Payton said. “There were a few throws and a few calls that were dumb by me. I’ve got to be better.”

Nix rebounded with a late touchdown pass, one of his three scores. But, punt returner Marvin Mims Jr. and the defense bailed the Broncos out as Nik Bonitto snuffed out a behind-the-line pass by receiver Adonai Mitchell to quarterback Anthony Richardson, a play so foolish it deserved a laugh track.

As Payton left the podium, as Nix left the stadium, there was nothing about this snapshot worth keeping in an album or a frame.

This is what it looks like when the offense is at its worst in the best possible outcome. This is not the Broncos from a year ago. They found a way to reach the finish line.

But Nix and Payton know it will likely be the last time if they have another game like this.

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