Drew Brees points to this turning point in Bo Nix’s stellar rookie campaign

At one time, future Hall of Famer Drew Brees had a little Ferris Bueller in him when he played for Sean Payton back in 2006. Brees said on Monday he knows when Bo Nix turned the corner and really became a legitimate contender for the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year.  

It wasn’t Sunday, when Nix passed for career highs in yards (307) and touchdowns (four) to obliterate the Falcons, 38-6. It was actually last week, in a heartbreaking, 16-14 loss at Kansas City.

“You talk about moral victories,” Brees told Colin Cowherd on Monday’s edition of The Herd. “They really should’ve won that game. The QB put them in position to win the game and they should’ve won the game. Even though they didn’t, I know the feeling I would’ve had as Bo Nix walking in that locker room. Yes, I’d have been pissed off because we just lost to the Chiefs; we’ve should’ve beaten Patrick Mahomes. But in my mind, I’m thinking to myself, ‘We can beat anybody.’”

Could they beat Pittsburgh in a potential playoff game, now that the Steelers have shown their quarterback warts? We might be about to find out, considering the way Nix has played of late. Since Week 6, the rookie ranks sixth in the NFL with a 104.7 passer rating, having completed 132 of 223 attempts (68.8 percent) for 1,409 yards and 11 touchdowns with only two interceptions. In comparison over the same stretch, Jayden Daniels has a 94.2 rating with 1,203 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Confidence is king for a young quarterback, according to Brees, and so is Payton.

“Obviously, a great coach and play-caller, a guy who also needed to get a feeling and understanding for what his quarterback could do and is capable of,” Brees said, “putting him in the best positions to succeed, in positions where he knows he’s going to be able to limit the mistakes and kind of bring him along. So, now I think we’re just starting to see, 10-11 games into this thing, the development of confidence along the way. Plus, the Denver defense is playing great, the run game is coming along for them.”

That defense on Sunday held the Falcons (6-5) out of the end zone and pitched a shutout over the game’s final 32 minutes. Atlanta was just 4 of 13 on third downs, managed only 226 yards and drove inside Denver’s 20-yard line on only one occasion. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has now gone two consecutive starts without a touchdown pass for the first time in his 13-year career.

It’s a fantastic coaching job by Payton and his staff, Cowherd said.

“This is not a great roster. They’re in cap hell because of the Russell Wilson deal, they’re draft-pick light, and I think this is Drew Brees with more mobility. When Vegas said it was a five-win team, I said, ‘Sean Payton’s worth three wins. Bo Nix, 61 college starts, he’s going to win some games. Bo Nix right now, the last seven weeks, looks like the most consistent quarterback in the entire rookie class. And we told you, Payton would want him, he’s perfect for Payton, and watch out.”

Speaking of Las Vegas, Denver visits the Raiders (2-8) on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS). Atlanta is on its bye week.

For more information on the Broncos and Falcons, visit the Denver and Atlanta team pages at ProFootballPost.com.