Rookie quarterback Bo Nix He put his name on a list that was previously the exclusive domain of John Elway, Peyton Manning and Brock Osweiler as the Denver Broncos defeated the Carolina Panthers 28-14 on Sunday.

Former Pinson Valley High School and Brown-haired The star threw three touchdown passes for the first time in his career and also ran for a TD in the most productive play of the eight games he has played since joining the Broncos with the 12th overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 25.

Before Sunday, the only Denver players with at least three TDs and one TD in the same game were Elway (who did it twice), Manning and Osweiler. Elway and Manning are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But Nix did something on Sunday that even Elway couldn’t do. Denver improved its record to 5-3, making Nix the first rookie quarterback to start five wins for the Broncos. Elway began his 16-year career in Denver with four wins in 10 games in 1983.

“I thought we did a really good job of starting fast and finishing early.” Nix said. “We got into a good rhythm there. Everybody on the field was making plays; receivers, tight ends, running backs. It didn’t matter. The ball was being distributed to a lot of positions, and I thought that was good. It’s hard to defend with a lot of guys involved.”

Nix set a career high with 284 passing yards, completing 28 of 37 passes. There was no intervention.

Nix capped a seven-play, 55-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to tight end Nate Adkins that gave the Broncos a 7-7 lead with 12:29 left in the first half.

On Denver’s next possession, the Broncos advanced 92 yards in seven plays, and tight end Adam Trautman capped the drive with a 19-yard reception by Nix with 6:51 left in the first half.

Nix’s third touchdown came on a 9-yard field goal by running back Jaleel McLaughlin, giving Denver a 28-7 lead with 6:49 left in the third quarter.

“I thought I had good vision throughout the day.” Nix said. “Guys were making good catches and great plays out there, and so I thought we played a complete game at least in the first half. We need to get into the rhythm in the second half that we had in the first half. But overall I thought it was good. We’re growing and finding ways to get better every week.” .”

Nix had just 4 yards on five rushing attempts, but one of those carries led to a 1-yard touchdown with 1:12 left in the first half.

Nix entered the game with a passing efficiency of 74.4 in his first seven games. It had a rating of 124.2 on Sunday.

Nix became the fourth rookie this century to post a game with at least three touchdown passes, one touchdown run and a passer rating of 120 or higher. He followed another former Auburn QB, Cam Newton, as well as Deshaun Watson and Justin Herbert.