I have followed Bo Nix’s career closely for the past three seasons — two at Oregon, this year with the Broncos — and have learned one valuable lesson along the way.

When you think you have Nix pegged as something short of a top-tier quarterback, he will prove you wrong.

Every step of the way, Bo has encountered detractors — and plenty of them.

I’ve been one.

My wise former co-host on Altitude Sports Radio, Chris Dempsey, dropped a line at the end of Broncos training camp that stuck with me: “Let’s quit about what Bo Nix cannot do and start talking about what he can do.”

At the time, I was constantly citing Nix’s average combine performance and was infatuated with the arm talent of fellow Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson.

I spent August discussing Nix’s “limited arm talent” and the lack of “big-boy NFL throws” throughout much of his college career, Senior Bowl and combine workouts.

Dempsey was right. I was fixated on the wrong things.

I should have been looking at the clear and obvious trait that I know all too well.

Nix’s intangibles make him one of the greatest prospects, with requisite NFL starter abilities and athleticism, to have his name called in the first round of the draft.

Character?

Good luck finding a flaw.

Work ethic?

He travels everywhere with a backpack consisting of a football, his notes and a recovery kit for crying out loud.

Courage?

The next time I see Nix back down from a challenge will be the first time I have seen him back down for a challenge.

Toughness?

I’ve yet to see a moment in Nix’s career when he exhibits pain or frustration to teammates.

You may be questioning why I’m writing a column highlighting the strengths of Nix in the midst of the worst two-game stretch as an NFL quarterback. After all, Nix has thrown five interceptions across back-to-back home games against the lowly Browns and the postseason pretender of all pretenders, the Colts.

Here’s why I’m choosing now to write a glowing review of the rookie who has restored the hope of Broncos Country: there’s one intangible I’ve failed to mention which carries more weight than any other in forecasting championship-caliber quarterbacks at all levels.

The ability to respond.

Nix is the Michael Jordan of responders, the Muhammad Ali of bouncing back.

He responded to a hyped and promising Auburn career turned bad. He took his talents to Oregon — and responded.

It could have been his less-than-stellar performance at the NFL combine. Nix responded by crushed his private workout with Sean Payton and the Broncos’ brass.

Following back-to-back two-interception games to launch his pro career against Seattle and Pittsburgh, Nix responded in a big way. The rookie has won nine of his last 12 starts to clinch the Broncos’ first winning season since 2016.

I’ve coached quarterbacks with wiring similar to Nix — highly competitive players with off-the-charts care factors. One thing I know for certain about players with that makeup: they cannot wait to get back on the field and right all the wrongs from the previous outing.

The great thing for Broncos Country?

Nix gets that chance Thursday.

While Nix and the Broncos have won two important games in an uneven stretch from the rookie, it was clear in his press conference Sunday he was dissatisfied with his own play.

Not only does Bo get to respond immediately, he can do it in one of the most significant Broncos games in a decade — against the Chargers, a division rival and fellow playoff contender. It’s on the road against a team that already beat him — with an opportunity to end a postseason drought that dates back to 2016.

In the biggest moments, the toughest and most prepared quarterbacks respond.

Broncos Country, you have the correct quarterback to lead you to the victory you have desperately desired for the past decade.

My prediction?

Bo Nix will respond. He always does.

(Mike Sanford coached at Stanford, Notre Dame, Boise State, Western Kentucky, Minnesota and served as the interim head coach at Colorado in 2022. The Erie resident is a regular on Altitude Sports Radio. His weekly “Coach’s Corner” runs in The Denver Gazette after Broncos games.)