Strong performance by Nix has Broncos leading Falcons, 38-6 in fourth quarter

DENVER — They may not be the most talented, but the Broncos just may have proved they are one of the league’s most mentally tough teams.

Hangover? That’s for the weak. Not for a team led by Bo Nix, its remarkably strong-willed rookie quarterback. The Broncos bounced back from their devastating loss last week at Kansas City to take a 38-6, fourth quarter lead against the Atlanta Falcons on a spectacular mid-November Sunday afternoon at Empower Field at Mile High.

With the bright sun both warming the air to a fall-perfect 55 degrees and casting a major upper-deck shadow across most of the playing field by halftime, the Broncos scored their touchdowns on a 12-yard pass from Nix to tight end Nate Adkins, a determined, 14-yard run by Javonte Williams, a 12-yard screen off third-and-goal from Nix to Marvin Mims Jr. with 25 seconds left in the half, a 7-yard screen from Nix to rookie Troy Franklin midway through the third quarter and a 41-yard bootleg left throw from Nix to Lil’Jordan Humphrey in the fourth quarter.

At that point, Nix was 28 of 33 for 307 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions for a 145.0 passer rating. He should now be neck-and-neck with Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels for the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

They added three more early in the fourth quarter on a 45-yard field goal by Wil Lutz — with Alex Forsyth blocking one slot over on the wing position, instead of the “tight end” position where he played last week.

The Falcons’ points came on field goals of 41 and 51 yards from no longer beleaguered kicker Younghoo Koo.

A win by the Broncos would move their record to 6-5, one game better than 5-6 Indianapolis for the No. 7 and final AFC playoff seed with six games remaining.

The Broncos lost the coin flip for their sixth consecutive time, but unlike their previous five, they scored a touchdown off the opening drive. It started ominously, but on third-and-9, Nix stepped up in the pocket and found Courtland Sutton standing still and wide open on the sideline for a 16-yard gain. Then Nix connected twice with fellow rookie Devaugn Vele for 14 and 8 yards. Vele took a shot to the helmet after his second catch, an Atlanta penalty that set up first down at the 12.

Nix then hit wide-open backup tight end Nate Adkins on a misdirection pass for a 12-yard touchdown. Masterful execution by Nix, 7-0 Broncos.

Falcons’ quarterback Kirk Cousins nearly answered in his first possessions but two penalties wiped out two large gains in the red zone and Atlanta settled for a 41-yard field goal from embattled kicker Younghoo Koo.

Later in the second quarter, Nix led a 77-yard touchdown drive capped by Williams’ remarkably strong run. Williams first hit a nice-sized hole from the 14 to the 5 where he met former teammate Justin Simmons squared up. Simmons dug in with all his might as Williams’ legs kept churning. Then a group of Denver blockers joined Williams from behind. And once guard Quinn Meinerz arrived, Simmons and the Falcons’ defense had no chance. Williams was pushed forward through the end zone and never did go down.

It was 14-3 Broncos with 6:16 left in the half.

Nix had one more possession before the end of the half and he used it to hum a 33-yard completion on a rope to Vele for a first down at the Atlanta 34. Nix was 17 of 19 for 192 yards and two touchdowns for a 143.9 passer rating.

Later in the drive, the Broncos were getting their field goal unit ready as they faced third-and-goal at the 12. But head coach Sean Payton called a timeout to find the right play. He dialed up a receiver screen to Marvin Mims, who cut and slashed through the porous Atlanta secondary for a touchdown.

Falcons’ quarterback Kirk Cousins was ineffective, completing 16 of 25 for only 162 yards. He was also picked off once and sacked twice.

The Broncos didn’t have starting safety Brandon Jones, their team leader in tackles with 84. He has an abdominal injury. There is hope he can play next week at Las Vegas. Deven Key, who started two games. …

As an adjusted to their game-losing blocked field goal last week, Broncos coaches flip-flopped Matt Peart and Forsyth so that the bigger Peart was on the inside and Forsyth on the outside. … 

Javonte Williams had a nice bounce-back game with 53 yards off eight carries. He also had 28 yards receiving on four catches. Audric Estime, the leading rusher last week at Kansas City, had just four carries for 7 yards. He also had three catches for 9 yards. …

Broncos had scored zero second-half points in their previous two games; 7 in their previous three. They snapped that drought right away against the Falcons thanks to a 37-yard punt return by Mims to set up the drive in Falcons’ territory. …

Mims has two punt returns for 47 yards and two receptions for 49 yards and a touchdown.  …

Sutton had seven catches for 78 yards. Vele had four catches for 66 yards. … 

Defensively, inside linebacker Cody Barton got an interception off Cousins. Defensive tackle Malcolm Roach and outside linebackers Jonah Elliss and Nik Bonitto each had a sack. Bonitto leads the team with 8 sacks, all coming in the past 9 games. Nickelback Ja’Quan McMillian was the leading tackler with 7. …

Jonah’s brother Kaden Elliss had 8 tackles for Atlanta. …

Late in the third quarter, Falcons’ star running back Bijon Robinson was limited to just 35 yards rushing off 12 carries.