Payton Shuts Down the Bo Nix Benching Talk. Now Fix the Offense Around Him.

Broncos Country, you've heard the Bo Nix benching talk on sports radio all week. Sean Payton shuts it down.

Payton said Monday the team is not considering a starting quarterback change, per NFL.com, and 98.5 KYGO reports he hasn't even considered one. His explanation, on DenverBroncos.com: Bo Nix is "going to become the byproduct of all the finer things that get improved," from the offensive line to running the football with more balance. Payton also put the missing chunk plays on the coaches: "That starts with me and us giving [Nix] those opportunities."

The worry is real. KYGO notes Nix has 1,049 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions through six games, completing about 60 percent. NFL.com says Denver ranks 31st in yards per game and 28th in passing, and picked up only two first downs on its final 10 drives in Thursday's 17-14 overtime win over Seattle. The flip side: the Broncos are 4-2, Nix is 28-12 as a starter, and Denver has won 14 straight one-possession regular-season games with him under center.

Our Take: Payton is right to shut this down. You don't bench a 28-12 starter on a 4-2 team. But now the coaches have to fix the offense around him, and "finer things" has to show up on the field Sunday. Take some shots.

What to watch: whether Denver pushes the ball downfield early in Arizona on Sunday, whether rookie RB Jonah Coleman returns from IR to help the run game (NFL.com says signs point to it), and whether the Broncos stretch the win streak to three.

Sources: DenverBroncos.com, NFL.com, 98.5 KYGO