Bo Nix holds his own against Sean Payton and becomes the Broncos' QB in the process

Whatever happens, we'll remember Sunday afternoon at 4:25 p.m. for the rest of this season. That was the moment Bo Nix became the Broncos' quarterback.

Until then, aside from the first drive in Tampa Bay and two throws against the Jets, all he had held was the title. But with a memorable five-minute interaction on the sidelines, Nix came of age.

He stepped off the training wheels and discussed with coach Sean Payton.

Nix stood firm and it no longer feels like this franchise is sitting in quicksand.

“He turned around, looked at me and said, 'I love you,'” Nix joked, “and I said I love you too.”

This was the Hallmark Channel version of what unfolded in the Broncos' convincing 34-18 victory over the Raiders, their first against their rival since 2019. The director's cut featured more colorful language and included rookie receivers Troy Franklin, Courtland Sutton , quarterback coach Davis Webb and Nix.

The reason for this was the incompleteness in the third quarter. Nix fired a deep ball into the end zone, where Franklin was wide open. He stretched out his body and let it fall. Payton didn't want that play and admitted Nix turned it over. When Nix returned to the sideline, he flipped his lid. This led Payton to compare Nix to a famous 1986 film character.

“There’s still a little bit of Ferris Bueller in him that we want to get rid of,” Payton said. “I love him more than anything. And sometimes (what you saw) is my love language.”

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Nix didn't take the day off. He never does that. He is prepared and hardworking. That's why this upset was so important and showed a quarterback who knew his role.

This is the real nonsense. He's running hot. He did it at Auburn. He made it in Oregon. He did it when his father, Patrick, coached him in high school in Alabama.

In the film, Bueller skipped school to help his friend Cameron gain self-respect. On Sunday, Nix earned the respect of his teammates.