The unlikely quarterback who beat a Patrick Mahomes record

Given the freedom to choose any NFL quarterback since 1950 to win your favorite team a close game, you might think of names like Joe Montana, Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes.What if the best option was technically a divisive, third-year quarterback? Week 9 for the Denver Broncos followed what has by now become a familiar pattern.During the first three quarters, Denver trailed and neither the Broncos nor Nix looked quite comfortable.

Then the fourth quarter began, and he made all the right moves — yet again.The 26-21 Broncos victory was their 17th consecutive win with Nix as the starter in games decided by one score or less — breaking a record held by Kansas City with Mahomes during the 2023-24 seasons that was the longest streak since 1950, including playoffs, per NBC Sports research.“Part of it pisses me off,” Broncos coach Sean Payton told reporters when asked about the streak, “because there’s a few of them that you would say shouldn’t have been one-score games.”Payton added that “we still have some work to do.”In fourth quarters, Nix transforms into an unbelievably effective quarterback at producing plays when they matter most.

Todd Kirkland / GettyTrue to form, Nix didn’t produce all highlights against the Carolina Panthers.In the first quarter, facing third-and-goal from Carolina’s 8-yard line, Nix dropped back to pass ...

and kept dropping back to elude blitzers ...then kept running backward until he reached the 33-yard line before at last throwing the ball away.

After three quarters, Carolina led 14-13.Nix threw an interception and committed a fumble, though it didn’t lead to a turnover.For SubscribersFOR SUBSCRIBERSDemocrats won big on Election Day.

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