ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- There was a time this past summer when Bo Nix wasn't the Denver Broncos starting quarterback just yet.
He was still a rookie who needed to prove to the Broncos he could be their starter over Jarrett Stidham. And he made it clear on that August afternoon about the approach he'd take to find success.
"I think it's important you take what the defense gives you, trust you are prepared, get the ball out and find the open guy," Nix said. "... That's the best way, don't force a mistake where the defense wants you to make one."
Three months later, Nix has played every offensive snap but five this season. The Broncos have solidified themselves in the AFC playoff hunt and Nix has done the same in the Rookie of the Year conversation. Sunday's 38-6 demolition of the Atlanta Falcons was another example of how Nix's preseason words weren't simply empty space fillers to get to the next question.
He meant what he said and has lived up to it much of the time. The Broncos have been at their best when Nix has found plenty of open guys, ranging up and down the team's depth chart. Nine different players caught at least one pass Sunday.
"All the receivers and tight ends made plays when their number was called,'' Nix said Sunday evening. "There is no telling how many guys caught a pass."
It was the third game this season when Nix has completed passes to at least nine different players. He has hit 11 in two games -- wins over the Carolina Panthers and the Las Vegas Raiders. Overall, he has completed passes to at least eight different receivers in eight of the Broncos' 11 games.
"What it does is show he isn't forcing the ball into specific guys like some young QBs do, you can almost mark it down when some young guys are going to the favorites," said one defensive coordinator who faced the Broncos this season. "... You may get him on some things he needs to work through, but overall he hasn't been sort of predictable, he's moved the ball to everybody.''
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is clearly Nix's top target, as his 85 targets are 41 more than the next Broncos player (running back Javonte Williams). Sutton leads the Broncos in receptions (49), yards receiving (647) and receiving touchdowns (three).
He is also the only Broncos player Nix has targeted at least 10 times in a game. Sutton has four games with at least 10 targets and seven games with at least eight. Sutton is also the only Broncos' player with a 100-yard receiving game this season -- he has two.
"[But] I think we do a good job of putting me in a good spot, having answers and choices and we just go out there and play them," Nix said.
Beyond Sutton, Nix has divvied up completions to a wide array of players in coach Sean Payton's quest for the rookie to make the right decisions to keep the offense moving. It hasn't always been as smooth as Sunday's win -- the Broncos are still 25th in passing yards per game (196.5) -- but Nix has nine touchdown passes to eight different players in the past four games.
"I think the progression from Bo watching tape, leading up to this game from Week 1 to now Week 11, [he] has gotten tremendously better each and every week," Falcons safety Justin Simmons said.
Nix is not only separating himself from the other rookies but also from the rest of the league. He leads all rookies in completions (234) and passing touchdowns (14), which is good for seventh and 11th in the NFL, respectively. Nix has thrown 13 of those touchdown passes since Week 5, which is tied for fifth among all quarterbacks.
"What makes him so special is when he has time to throw the ball, he gets the ball to our playmakers," left tackle Garett Bolles said. "He's a deadly quarterback in this league."
Nix has thrown two interceptions in the last nine games and his two best passing yardage days -- 284 yards in the win over Carolina and 307 yards Sunday -- have come in the last month. It has put defenses in a bind about where to roll coverages, as Nix has shown he is willing to look elsewhere if Sutton gets extra attention.
"This offense can score in a lot of different ways," Sutton said. "... Being able to be in this position right now is a lot of promise, lot of promise ... I think everyone is feeling that energy of just locking in and taking care of what we need to take care of."