The Denver Broncos‘ defense harrassed Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield on Sunday, finishing the game with seven sacks and two takeaways. While Mayfield had a rough day at the office, Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix was kept clean by Denver’s offensive line.
Nix was not sacked once — thanks in part to his own pocket awareness — and the offensive line played well despite losing right tackle Mike McGlinchey to a knee injury last week. Alex Palczewski filled in on Sunday and he performed well, helping Denver’s offense have its best game of the season.
“[W]e had protection, we had a really good plan relative to getting in and out of some audibles,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said after a 26-7 win. “Bo handled it really well. We were going to have answers if [pressure] came. … [The Bucs] are counting on takeaways, they are counting on sacks, they are counting on disruption. We just had to do everything to prevent that.”
Mission accomplished.
The team’s interior offensive linemen — center Luke Wattenberg and guards Ben Powers and Quinn Meinerz — did not allow a single pressure, according to NFL Next Gen Stats (via the Denver Post‘s Ryan McFadden).
If he continues getting that kind of protection up front, Nix will be set up for success.
