Courtland Sutton’s surge is helping rookie Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos make a playoff push

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — What’s stoking the Denver Broncos’ surprising surge is the growing connection between rookie quarterback Bo Nix and veteran wide receiver Courtland Sutton.

Whenever the Broncos (7-5) need a clutch catch, a key flag or a timely touchdown, Sutton is usually the one delivering it like he did Sunday when he caught eight passes on 10 targets for 97 yards and a pair of touchdowns that sparked the Broncos’ come-from-behind 29-19 win at Las Vegas.

“Courtland played tremendous,” coach Sean Payton said.

Again.

“He’s just reliable,” Nix said. “He’s just always there when you need him.”

Sutton’s size (6-foot-4 and 216 pounds) and experience (he’s in his seventh NFL season) make him an ideal target and safety valve for the rookie QB whose confidence is growing by the week.

“He’s smart. He’s savvy. He makes plays when the ball’s in the air,” Nix said. “You can trust him. When it’s up in the air, it’s his or nobody’s. It’s not going to be a pick.”

Nix’s first touchdown toss to Sutton was an 18-yarder that allowed the QB to break Marlin Briscoe’s 1968 Denver rookie record of 14 TD passes, and the two connected again with 5:30 left to make it a two-score game.

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The Broncos trailed 13-9 at halftime and Nix said they knew they had to get the ball into Sutton’s hands more in the second half after he had caught the only pass thrown his way in the first half (for 17 yards).

“Didn’t target him (much) in the first half,” Nix said. “We come out and say, ‘Look, Courtland, this is your half.’ We take over the game. He goes for two touchdowns. That just kind of speaks for what he means to our team.”

Sutton has been on a tear after since he wasn’t targeted a single time in Denver’s 33-10 win at New Orleans on Oct. 17. (Payton mentioned as recently as last week what an anomaly that game was because there was a heavy diet of plays for Sutton that just didn’t pan out for various reasons.)

In his six games before that goose egg, Sutton had 21 catches on 49 targets for 277 yards and a touchdown. In the five games since, he’s caught 36 of the 48 balls thrown his way for 467 yards and three TDs. Plus, he threw a touchdown pass to Nix on a “Philly Special” at Baltimore in Week 9.

“I think we’re just scratching the surface,” Sutton said.

Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nix and Sutton, the Broncos are in position for the seventh and final playoff spot entering December.

What’s working

The passing game, thanks to the Nix-Sutton connection.

What needs help

The running game. Javonte Williams had just 2 yards on eight carries and Audric Estime ran three times for 15 yards against the Raiders’ run-heavy fronts and a steady diet of blitzes. Jaleel McLaughlin saved the day with seven carries for 44 yards.

Stock up

OLB Nik Bonitto. His 10 sacks make him the first Denver defender with double-digit sacks since 2018, when Von Miller did it.

Stock down

Once again, the Broncos’ special teams, with the exception of K Wil Lutz, who hasn’t missed a field goal attempt or extra point since his protection unit cratered at Kansas City three weeks ago and allowed the Chiefs to block what would have been the game-winning kick as time expired. On Sunday, the Raiders had a successful fake punt and a 59-yard kickoff return.

Injuries

Payton isn’t saying much about the injuries to DE Zach Allen (heel) and CB Riley Moss (knee) except that to him they’re not serious setbacks for either player.

Key number

2 — The Broncos are two games above .500 for the first time since starting the 2021 season with three wins.

Next steps

The Broncos host Cleveland (3-8) on Monday night ahead of their bye week.

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