ENGLEWOOD — Bo Nix has the second-most passes batted down at or behind the line of scrimmage in the NFL entering the Broncos regular season finale.

The rookie quarterback shrugged off the frequency — 16 passes batted down over 16 games — after practice this week at Broncos Park.

“I wouldn’t have even known it if you didn’t say it,” Nix said. “So, I guess in a way it’s not that important.”

Point taken.

The Broncos (9-7) are hyper-focused on beating the Chiefs (15-1) at Empower Field. Nix is a candidate for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with a chance to secure a playoff berth on Sunday. It’s still worth exploring why he ranks behind only Cowboys’ Cooper Rush (17) league-wide in batted passes this season.

Height doesn’t explain it. Rush is listed at 6-foot-3 and Nix at 6-foot-2.

Offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi discussed the topic Thursday following practice at Broncos Park.

“Some of that is probably experience. But a lot of it I think is just … bad luck over a stretch,” Lombardi said. “As his career goes on, I don’t think he’s going to be a guy that happens to a lot. I know the same question was asked about (Chargers quarterback Justin) Herbert, who is 6-6. Sometimes a guy is just looping in right into your throwing lane, right as you’re throwing, and he gets his hands up. And sometimes, it’s just bad luck.”

Nix, to his credit, has reduced the frequency as his rookie season progressed. The Raiders batted down three of his passes back in Week 5. His offensive line also plays some role in lowering that total.

“It’s hard for us to take onus sometimes because they can just sit away from us, sit there and bat balls down. If we’re locked up with somebody, and they try and jump, we can pull them down. But that’s pretty much all we can do,” center Luke Wattenberg told The Denver Gazette after practice on Thursday at Broncos Park. “We can create windows for him by clearing linemen out. But a lot of the time, it’s just bad luck.”

NFL BATTED PASSES LEADERS

The most passes batted at or behind the line of scrimmage by NFL quarterbacks entering Week 18 of the season, according to profootballreference.com.

1. Cooper Rush (Cowboys): 17

2. Bo Nix (Broncos): 16

T-3. Matthew Stafford (Rams), Kirk Cousins (Falcons): 15

5. Kyler Murray (Cardinals): 14

T-6. Geno Smith (Seahawks), Aaron Rodgers (Jets): 13

T-7. Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers), Jayden Daniels (Commanders), Lamar Jackson (Ravens): 12

10. Jameis Winston (Browns): 11