ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Faced with the rockiest start to a season of his young career, and with the defending Super Bowl champions next on the docket Thursday night, Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix said Tuesday he can find solutions if he can simplify his approach.
"Making it simple, making things 1-2-3, and let's play fast and let's roll,'' Nix said after Tuesday's practice. "I think sometimes I can have a tendency of overanalyzing it and overthinking things, and that's when I'm not at my best. I want to have all the answers and get everything right. And it's too difficult.
"But I do think I can make the game simpler and just get back to 1-2, check down, that sort of thing, and making sure my reads are good.''
After five games, Nix finds himself 24th in the league in QBR, 26th in completion percentage and 30th in completions over expectation as he comes off his second-lowest passing output in a game of his career. Nix threw for 123 yards Sunday in the Broncos' win at the Los Angeles Chargers, the third victory of the season for the Broncos with a fourth-quarter comeback.
He already has more fumbles this season (five) than in either of his first two seasons and now has three sub-200 yard passing games over the first five weeks. Broncos coach Sean Payton has removed offensive coordinator Davis Webb as the team's playcaller to take over those duties and try to spark the offense.
Payton has said it's about finding more schemed completions for Nix and "calm it down'' for the quarterback.
"Part of what we're trying to do is finding these throws ... we're always trying to find those plays that are clean and against the coverages you want,'' Payton said. "[But] it's bumpy, so we're constantly grinding to calm it down and create some matchups, and some call it first or second into the progression throws that make it less risky.
"There is that happy medium.''
The Broncos (3-2) have a short week before they face the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night at Empower Field at Mile High.
The Seahawks have made life difficult for opposing quarterbacks this season. They lead the NFL in takeaways (11), interceptions (seven) and pass rush win rate (65.5%).
Asked about limiting turnovers, specifically against the Seahawks, in the search for big plays, Nix reaffirmed his desire to clear his head and make good decisions.
"Honestly, truly the biggest battle now,'' Nix said. "At the end of the day it's like who cares? Why would I go out there worried about throwing an interception? Why would I go out there trying to throw every football 50 yards down the field? Just play the play. If the play is there, hit it; if it's not there, check it down, run, throw it away, punt. Who cares?''
Asked about his own confidence level in a difficult start, Nix added: "I'm confident in my preparation. I'm confident in my coaching. I'm confident in the way we're going to structure the game to call plays. I know it's going to be there.''