Identifying specific trends from NFL teams can take a fair amount of time. That is especially true when considering new regimes once they get their shot in a new place. At the same time, some of the more impactful, difference-making trends may be something that teams tap into a fourth of the time throughout the season.
In the Denver Broncos' offense, there was a glaring way in which the passing offense operated in 2025. Bo Nix is a quarterback who has a deep team around him. As a result, he is not always forced to take risks. But with how often he uses his mobility when throwing, it makes for an intriguing question for 2026.
Do defenses force him to stay and stand in the pocket more often to deliver his throws? Or will Nix continue to be efficient with his quicker throws and moving the pocket on the run?
Nix set history for Next Gen Stats era
Nix throwing on the run or while scrambling is something he executed going back to his early college career at Auburn. He was not forced to improvise as much after transferring to Oregon. But in the Broncos' offense, Denver has seen his legs help him escape danger and keep plays alive.
The sheer number of plays in which he throws while on the move is still stunning to comprehend. By early December last season, 26 percent of Nix's passes came while he was rolling out or on the move. According to The Denver Post, there had never been a higher percentage of passes in that category for a quarterback in the history of Next Gen Stats tracking data.
His completion percentage took a slight dip in 2025 (63.4 percent) after what he produced in his rookie season in 2024 (66.3 percent). Interestingly, despite the record-high percentage of pass attempts while on the run, he tucked the ball and ran slightly less than he did in 2024.
Selective aggression leads to Denver relying on defense
The Broncos are capable of producing some high-scoring outings on offense with Nix. But because of how inconsistent the aggressive part of his game is, Denver is left playing tight contests late. Thirteen of their 17 games in the 2025 regular season were decided by eight points or less. That leads to the Denver defense being heavily relied upon.
As far as the passing game goes in terms of selective aggressiveness, let's look at play-action passing. The Broncos were 13th in play-action pass attempts last year. However, they finished only 22nd in passing yards off play action, per Pro Football Reference.
Nix will be choosy about when he takes his shots down the field. You see plenty of throws to the perimeter that are between seven and 12 yards from the line of scrimmage. When he did go deep, the receivers often had to work extra hard to come down with the ball. Or the pass was not close to their hands very often.
For instance, Pro Football Focus charted Nix at just a 38.2 percent catchable-pass rate on throws of 20-plus air yards last season.
Will play caller change drastically affect Nix's approach?
Does Denver continue to throw short-to-intermediate passes to generate the bulk of its explosive plays? They can stress and stretch the opposition with horizontal flow and action to the outside edges. Designed touches for Marvin Mims and quick throws to Troy Franklin are excellent examples. Now that Jaylen Waddle joins the fold, those swift touches could increase.
The Broncos will also see head coach Sean Payton give up play-calling duties. Giving Davis Webb a new role as offensive coordinator will be fascinating to monitor. Payton is notably maniacal and strict when it comes to his offense. Seth Wickersham of ESPN offered an excellent deep dive into Payton behind the scenes last season.
It is evident that he cannot help himself if he thinks he needs to overrule assistants and alter the game plan. Will Payton truly be able to step back and be patient with someone else running that part of the show? If not, does Nix continue his 2025 play tendencies?
Nix may be asked to stay in the pocket more with the play-calling change. But even if that takes place, the usage of his legs and throwing on the move are going to be key trends to watch. If opponents cannot stop it, or if he hits on more deep throws in 2026, the Broncos could theoretically score at a more consistently high clip. That comes with an already dominant defense. But if the offense stays risk-averse in the passing attack, it may prevent Denver from taking that next step offensively and maintaining its division crown.
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