BALTIMORE – The Denver Broncos executed a remarkable trick play during their game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, bringing the score to 10-7 as they trailed on the road.

On a fourth down with just one yard to go, Bo Nix received the snap in a shotgun formation and handed the ball off to Javonte Williams, who then tossed it to Courtland Sutton. Sutton, running behind the backfield, managed to throw a pass that found Nix in the end zone. Nix displayed great athleticism as he leaped to capture the ball over Ravens safety Marcus Williams, landing for a touchdown.

By the middle of the second quarter, the Broncos had closed the gap to 10-7 against the Ravens, who were favored despite both teams having identical 5-3 records. However, the game ultimately ended in a 41-10 rout in favor of Baltimore, highlighting the significant gap between the two teams.

The trick play was the peak of their performance, demonstrating the long road ahead for Sean Payton’s squad before they can truly compete with the top teams in the AFC. Unfortunately for the Broncos, Nix’s touchdown was one of the few remarkable moments in a game where they struggled overall.

After the defeat, Payton acknowledged that the Ravens dominated across all aspects of the game.

“It’s essential to recruit the right players and foster the right mindset,” Payton mentioned, having finished his first season with the team at 8-9 in 2023. “No excuses today; we were thoroughly outplayed.”

Lamar Jackson and Zay Flowers quickly answered Nix’s touchdown, pushing the Ravens down the field for a seven-play, 63-yard touchdown drive. They extended their lead to two touchdowns before halftime.

Nix finished the game going 19-of-33 for 233 yards with one interception on his first pass attempt. While this early throw wasn’t his best, the fault also lay with wideout Lil’Jordan Humphrey, who allowed the pass to bounce off his hands and be intercepted by Ar’Darius Washington.

The Broncos converted 6 out of 14 third downs, but Payton opted to keep the offense on the field during fourth downs, resulting in a 1-for-5 performance. On the first attempt, Nix missed a potential touchdown throw to former Oregon teammate Troy Franklin.

“We squandered multiple opportunities on those fourth downs, and it changes the game,” Nix reflected. “There are many what-ifs today, but the fact is we were outmatched.”

Despite his limitations, Nix demonstrated a willingness to make short passes and capitalize on favorable matchups, while also making some deeper throws on Sunday.

“That quarterback has talent,” stated Ravens linebacker Tavius Robinson, “and he will only improve.”

Through the first nine games, this has certainly been true for Nix. After a cautious debut against the Seattle Seahawks where he hardly threw beyond the line of scrimmage, he has been more aggressive in games since (averaging 7.06 air yards per attempt from Weeks 4-8). The Broncos recorded five plays of 21 yards or more on Sunday, while the Ravens managed seven.

Last week, Payton’s team dominated the Carolina Panthers. However, this week, they found themselves outmatched as Jackson connected with fullback Patrick Ricard on a play-action pass near the goal line, extending the score to 38-10 with just over a minute left in the third quarter. Jackson had an impressive performance, going 16-for-19 for 280 passing yards, three touchdowns, and achieving a perfect passer rating of 158.3.

“If you’re part of an experienced team, you can recover from a loss more easily. Conversely, for a younger squad, you need to absorb the lessons from this experience, grow stronger, and strive to avoid repeating it,” Nix reflected. “Acknowledge the discomfort and accept that we fell short today. Young teams must figure out ways to prevent this from happening again.”