It was 41 years ago, almost to the day.
Coming off a dismal, strike-shortened 2-7 season the previous year, the Broncos were playing Seattle in the first preseason game of the 1983 season.
A heralded rookie quarterback, seeing his first professional action, started the second half. Denver was losing, 7-3.
He completed his first three passes and directed a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
In four minutes, 22 seconds of playing time, John Elway produced what proved to be the winning score as the Broncos beat the Seahawks 10-7.
Bo Nix didn’t do that, exactly, in his debut against the Indianapolis Colts last Sunday.
But Denver, which hadn’t had a winning record since 2016, was losing when he entered the game to start the Broncos’ third offensive series—by three points instead of four.
And he did march his team 45 yards in 11 plays to a game-tying 41-yard field goal, needing only three minutes and 24 seconds.
After that, the man with the shortest name in National Football League history engineered three more scoring drives (two touchdowns and another field goal)—giving him four scores in five drives,
The other possession was short-circuited by a receiver’s fumble on the first play. But Denver’s defense got the ball right back on a pass interception, then Nix commanded the two-minute drill like a veteran, using just 1:19 to take Denver 41 yards in seven plays to regain the lead on a field goal with eight seconds left in the half.
Overall, in his rendition of the rookie Elway, Nix exhibited several abilities that belied his professional inexperience. In short, he was electric.
On the fifth play of his pro career—showing Elway-like mobility—he broke from the pocket and, while running to his left, threw a 22-yard sideline strike to Courtland Sutton.
On his 21st play from scrimmage, the quick release and laser throw to Marvin Mims in the front left corner of the end zone on third-and-goal was a gasp-worthy way to record his first touchdown pass.
And his ability to launch a deep ball and draw a 29-yard pass interference penalty during the drive to that go-ahead field goal at the end of the half put the Broncos in position to take the lead into the locker room.
Jarrett Stidham didn’t embarrass himself in two series to begin the game—4-for-7 for 37 yards and an interception that wasn’t his fault. (Robert Perine muffed Stidham’s throw and a Colts defender snatched it.)
But the way Nix followed, it was a bad day to be the incumbent starter at quarterback. Just as it was for Steve Deberg decades ago.
Zach Wilson took over with 7:45 left in the third quarter and showed a calm reserve and resilience that apparently was absent during his three seasons with the Jets.
On his second snap, Audric Estime fumbled, and the Colts returned it for a touchdown that cut Denver’s lead to 20-17.
Undaunted, Wilson immediately led Denver 69 yards in nine plays to go back ahead by 10 points, 27-17.
And after the Colts again cut it to three, he capitalized on a fumble at the Colts 19 by Indy’s fifth quarterback of the game—remember, this is the preseason—to make it 34-24 less than two minutes later.
His veteran savvy likely made it happen.
On fourth-and-two at the 11, coach Sean Payton eschewed a sure-shot field goal, and Wilson attracted an encroachment penalty by a Colts lineman trying to anticipate the snap. First down. And touchdown on the next play.
So, back to then and now.
Elway completed 10 of 15 passes in his debut. Nix—ironically the first Denver quarterback to wear uniform No. 10 since Mark Herrmann, who went to Indianapolis in the trade that brought Elway to Denver—finished 15-for-21.
Even though it was only a preseason game, Elway made the cover of Sports Illustrated with his inaugural performance.
Alongside a closeup photo of the future Hall of Famer, his helmet perched atop his youthful head, with the chin strap dangling against his cheek, were the words:
LOOKING LIKE A MILLION
Denver’s John Elway Makes A Dazzling NFL Debut
And Denver was abuzz.
It’s unlikely that Nix will attract such national attention for his first NFL appearance.
But, just as assuredly, Denver will be abuzz again. Denny Dressman is a veteran of 43 years in the newspaper business, including 25 at the Rocky Mountain News, where he began as executive sports editor. He is the author of 16 books, nine of them sports-related. You can write to Denny at dennydressman@comcast.net.