Bo Nix became the 11th player in NFL history to throw at least 42 passes in his first game on Sunday.

Was that coach Sean Payton’s plan for the former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn standout’s debut as the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback?

“Heck no,” Payton said.

The Broncos opened the 2024 season with a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. But Payton didn’t pin the defeat on the rookie QB, who won the job in competition with Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson after joining Denver from Oregon as the 12th pick in the NFL Draft on April 25.

“He gave us a chance,” Payton said. “Our protection was average at best. … At one point in the game, I came to the bench and talked to the receivers and said: ‘Let’s go.’ I don’t know how many drops we had, but, man, let’s help this guy. …

“I thought he was into it. I never felt like it was too big or confusing. He was sharp. I thought he actually extended some plays with his feet. Again, we’ll look at the tape, but we have to be better around him.”

Nix completed 26-of-42 passes for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He was Denver’s leading rusher with five carries for 35 yards and his first NFL touchdown.

The rest of the Broncos’ ball-carriers totaled 64 yards on 20 rushing attempts, and that performance factored into Nix’s 42 passes, Payton said.

“We’ve got to be more effective running the football,” Payton said. “If you take away his scrambling yards, I think we were like somewhere near 60 yards rushing to their 140, so not nearly good enough. …

“It’s going to be hard to play quarterback period if that’s the best we can do running the ball.”

Denver led 13-9 at halftime on three field goals by Will Lutz and two safeties. The lead might have been bigger, though: The Broncos’ first possession started at the Seattle 20-yard line after an interception and a second-quarter series started at the Seahawks 9 following a muffed punt. But Lutz did the scoring in both instances.

Nix was picked off at the Seattle 1-yard line in the second quarter and the Seahawks 38 in the fourth quarter.

After his second interception, Nix led Denver’s only touchdown drive. On the seven-play, 54-yard series, Nix scrambled for 23 yards on the first snap, ran off four consecutive completions and finished the drive with a 4-yard touchdown run.

That pulled the Broncos within six points, but Seattle ran out the clock on its victory.

“It was a challenge for sure, to say the least,” said Nix, who was on the field for seven three-and-outs. “I thought they were a really good defense. I thought they played well in their scheme. I thought they rallied to the football. It was tough to get some explosive plays, and I think when you have a hard time getting explosives and you got to sustain drives, they can get you in third-and-long, third-and-tough situations.

“Overall, I think as poorly as we did, we gave ourselves a chance to win at the end.”

After opening the season on the road, the Broncos will make their 2024 home debut in their next game when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit Empower Field at Mile High in Denver at 3:25 p.m. CDT Sept. 15.

“We got a competitive team,” Nix said. “We got a team that’s not going to quit, and we’re going to put everything on the line. No matter if it’s an ugly start, we’re going to continue to find ways to finish. …

“I don’t think we were far off.”

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.