Getty
A simple stats comparison from longtime Broncos reporter Mike Klis didn’t look like it was built for chaos.
Klis posted a “final 30-game comparison” between Bo Nix and Russell Wilson in Denver, and the replies immediately turned into a full-on Broncos internet fight — the kind where people aren’t just debating quarterbacks, they’re relitigating everything about the Russell Wilson era.
And it wasn’t a small bubble: the post drew roughly 267,000 views with a heavy reply count, per a public X-viewer snapshot.
A Harmless Post That Hit Every Broncos Nerve at Once
Here’s why it detonated: Klis’ snapshot didn’t just stack yards and touchdowns. It included the stats that make fans feel like they’re winning an argument — record, sacks and fumbles — and those categories are exactly where Wilson’s Broncos tenure gets the harshest memories.
Klis’ own framing in the article also pours gasoline on the conversation, noting Wilson has “mostly become persona non grata in Denver” while Nix is the “favorite son.”
When you post that next to a clean chart, people aren’t reading nuance. They’re picking a side.
The 30-Game Numbers Everyone Started Fighting Over
According to the comparison posted with Klis’ 9NEWS story:
Bo Nix (first 30 games): 21-9, 6,729 yards, 48 TD, 21 INT, 40 sacks, 90.2 rating
Russell Wilson (Broncos 30 games): 11-19, 6,594 yards, 42 TD, 19 INT, 100 sacks
That’s the “oh wow” cocktail that makes social media do its thing: similar yardage and touchdown production, but a massive gap in wins and negative plays.
@mikeklis9news Show this to anyone claiming that the broncos offense was better with Russ lmao
The reaction basically split into two lanes:
Lane 1: “This is the whole story.”
Broncos fans who never wanted Wilson (or who soured quickly) treated the graphic like a receipt. Same-ish production, fewer disasters, and a way better record? To them, it’s proof the franchise finally found the right fit.
Lane 2: “This is missing the point.”
Wilson defenders and neutral NFL fans argued the comparison is incomplete. Different rosters, different moments, different circumstances — and a chart can’t capture why Wilson took so many sacks or why Denver’s results swung week to week.
That tug-of-war is why the replies keep coming.
One Quote-Tweet That Added Fuel to the Fire
The viral debates didn’t stay in Denver’s corner of the internet, either. Packers analyst/host Peter Bukowski quote-tweeted a blunt summary that captured the skeptical crowd: “So Bo Nix is Broncos Russ with some better luck/defense. Got it.”
And once a take like that lands, the conversation shifts from “interesting comparison” to “fight me.”
What It Means for the Broncos (and the Russ Narrative)
Whether people love the chart or hate it, the bigger takeaway is obvious: Nix is winning, and winning changes how everything is remembered.
If Denver keeps stacking wins, the Wilson era will keep getting harsher in hindsight — and every stat graphic like this becomes another round of public therapy for a fan base that really wants to feel like it’s finally on the right track.
Erik Anderson is an award-winning sports journalist covering the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. Anderson is also the host of The Rip City Pod on The I-5 Corridor, where he dives into the stories and personalities shaping the Portland Trail Blazers. His work has appeared in nationally-recognized outlets including The New York Times, Associated Press , USA Today, and ESPN. More about Erik Anderson
More Heavy on Broncos
Loading more stories