The short memory of Broncos quarterback Bo Nix started developing as an Alabama high school football star.

“In high school, I was not very patient. It was like an every-drive thing, and if I got off the field and we had to punt, it was like the end of the world,” Nix said in Houston on Sunday, recalling his time at Pinson Valley High School. “In college (at Oregon), it was learning how to win certain battles and field position. Just getting completions and checking it down and moving it to the next play. … Each level I feel like I’ve been able to learn a lot.”

Nix did just enough for the Broncos in an 18-15 road victory over the Texans. It wasn’t always pretty. He completed just 48% of his passes (18 of 37) for 173 yards. Nix threw a pick. But he also led Denver to yet another fourth-quarter comeback — its fourth in five games — to beat the NFL’s top-ranked total and scoring defense in Houston.

Time to wipe the slate clean once again before Week 10 at home Thursday night against the Raiders, because lately, this Broncos’ offense is Jekyll and Hyde. They dropped 33 points and 44 points in wins over the Giants and Cowboys. They limped to victories with 13 and 18 against the Jets and Texans.

How will Nix and the offense respond Sunday in a crucial division contest at Empower Field?

“I’m going to continue to work and not stop until I maximize my potential,” Nix said.

The AFC West-leading Broncos (7-2) host the last-place Raiders (2-6). Denver is surging with six consecutive wins. Las Vegas is reeling after a 30-29 overtime loss to the Jaguars.

The Raiders are likely gassed on defense with a short week of preparation after defending 77 plays against Jacksonville. They’ve also given up at least 30 points in three of their last four games. On Monday, Raiders coach Pete Carroll lamented specific defensive struggles facing the Jaguars.

“For whatever reason, we came out of the week and just across the board we did not tackle well,” Carroll told reporters in Las Vegas. “A lot of it was guys leaving their feet too soon. Fundamentally, it’s something we work on consistently. It was a surprise. … We missed a big handful of tackles that we should make.”

Carroll has respect for the Broncos’ Sean Payton going back to their previous head coaching stops in Seattle and New Orleans.

“It’s always a really well-schooled group that (Payton) coaches,” Carroll said. “They’ve always had a good attitude about running the football. They’ve been physical. … We’ve seen for years him utilize his personnel in unique ways that fits their style and their makeup. There’s nothing about his game that isn’t on point.”

Yet the Broncos have failed to establish much offensive consistency crossing the midway point of Payton’s third season in Denver. On Sunday, after a come-from-behind effort over the Texans, Payton pointed to field position as one reason for uneven production in Houston.

“The thing that was troubling me a little bit was we went into it wanting to play as much of the game on their side of the field,” Payton said. “I felt in the kicking game we didn’t do enough to leverage the field-position battle. Defensively, fortunately, we held up.”

Nix will keep his memory short as the Broncos aim to stay on the winning track despite a sometimes roller coaster offense. All he cares about is the final score. It doesn’t matter to him how the Broncos get there.

“You have to eventually learn as a quarterback how important that next play really is,” Nix said. “If you can just get to it in a better situation than you were the play prior — then you did your job.”