The costume spoke volumes.
At a Halloween party this week, Bo Nicks and his wife Izzy wore costumes inspired by Top Gun. Wearing a leather bomber jacket, sunglasses and a crew cut, Nicks looked like the Iceman.
Ferris Bueller is fun, mischievous, and a master of shortcuts. Iceman is more reflective of Knicks’ personality: confident, driven, strict and dedicated. He’s known for following the rules and coloring within the lines, which is fitting for the Knicks, who revealed on the Jumbotron last week that he would have been an FBI agent if football had gone awry.
Structure, guidelines, execution of the plan – all of these are paramount this week. Well ahead of schedule, the Knicks have a chance to prove they’re their franchise quarterback on Sunday.
After a clumsy start, he gave off that vibe in October and won the NFL’s Rookie of the Month award.
Typically, a team knows by November of a quarterback’s second season whether he is the answer. Knicks developed faster than expected and is rocking Polaroid photos. His performance against the Panthers makes it easy to dream of a winning record and a playoff spot. Wouldn’t that be something for the Broncos, who have been wandering in the dark for years?
But the question hanging over this matchup is whether this quarterback and this team are the real deal. The Broncos have gained weight in the NFC South against the Raiders and Jets. In other words, their CHSAA RPI stinks.
On Sunday, the Knicks will be able to prove that this team is no impostor. The Ravens provide that kind of test, and understandably many in Broncos Country will be hiding in fear of peeking out from under cover.
To be kind, the Broncos have wilted in these places since Super Bowl 50. When you’re in a big game against a strong team, no matter how much Febreze you use, you can’t get rid of the smell.
The Ravens are not an ideal opponent. They boast reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. He missed two practices this week with knee and back issues, but he’s the best player in the league. Sick, tired, injured, it doesn’t matter.
He also uses rookie quarterbacks to floss his teeth, and he has an 8-0 record with them in his career.
By confronting Jackson without flinching, the Knicks will answer important questions about his long-term future and his ability to handle the moment. If they beat Jackson, he’s seen as the solution and all they need is another weapon — the Broncos have to trade/draft/sign a tight end and No. 1 receiver next week or next March. To end the growth of.
Skeptics surround the Knicks. This week, No. 33’s Dan Pizzuta ranked Nix 29th among starting QBs based on skill set and production, ahead of only Gardner Minshew, Mason Rudolph and Spencer Rattler. That would require LASIK surgery or a recount.
Even with improvement, question marks remain over Nix’s accuracy and ceiling. That’s why this game, and next week’s game against Kansas City, is such an important measuring stick. The Knicks can silence their critics and change their minds with a strong performance against a Super Bowl contender.
He will be confident. Over the past five games, he has scored 10 touchdowns and posted a quarterback rating of 96.4. However, this path remains part of the test of his growth.
The Knicks played well on one drive in Tampa Bay, getting past the Saints. But his overall numbers represent a challenge in Baltimore. The Knicks have yet to show the ability to handle the ball and take chances.
He didn’t turn the ball over or get sacked in the Broncos’ three straight road wins. This is extremely valuable. But a conservative approach alone won’t be enough to sway the Ravens. He has to make more plays with his feet downfield.
He is averaging 144.5 yards passing and 40 yards rushing per game against Denver. Protecting the ball is essential, but if the ball overwhelms his approach it will prevent him from winning. The Broncos aren’t winning rock fights in Baltimore. They have to score in the mid-20s.
If the Knicks want to shake up the national conversation, they’ll have to make more plays (say, 30+ yards rushing) and hit a deep strike or two. The Ravens’ secondary offers reason to believe he can do it. This group has been on a leak all season, with a combination of injuries, dropped picks and blown assignments. Baltimore has allowed more than 300 yards four times and held an opponent to fewer than 200 yards just once.
The Knicks will have to work with Courtland Sutton in stride on route crossings and have deep connections with Troy Franklin and Marvin Mims Jr. You know, show a little bit of maverick in your game with guts and instincts. And with Baltimore allowing the second-most targets and yards to tight ends, coach Sean Payton must keep Adam Trautman and Lucas Krul in the mix.
If Nyx stalls, this game won’t be a referendum on Nyx. However, such opportunities are rare. The Broncos, like the Knicks, use heaters and are fine against their toughest opponents. And they are self-aware and fully understand what is at stake and what a strong performance would mean to their reputation and season.
If you think this week is no big deal, you’re living in a spider cave.
For the eighth year in a row, the Broncos have found themselves in the spotlight.
This time it feels different. They have Iceman. The stage is yours, kid. Show that you are The Man.
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First Published: November 2, 2024 at 6:00 PM MST
