Bo Nix is ​​no Justin Fields. He won’t overrun the Pittsburgh Steelers. But as a rookie without much experience, there are concerns that his legs could be a thorn in the defense’s side.

Pittsburgh dominated Kirk Cousins. No one was more excited for the final point of this game than he was. He took hit after hit, pressure after pressure, and his face was ready for a punch every time TJ Watt got anywhere near him. The Steelers pass rush is at its best when they can attack a true pocket passer, a dying breed in today’s NFL. Unless it’s an elite name like Peyton Manning or Tom Brady who can simply read a defense and get the ball out before the rush has a chance, the Steelers thrive.

They tend to have more trouble against a mobile quarterback. Not always, but there tends to be more frustration, as is the case with most teams, I think. The running element of the quarterback is another consideration, another thing to deal with, an ace up their sleeve when the coverage does its job and takes it all away.

The engine of the Steelers’ defense is their pass rush. It starts by stopping the run, but that’s just the power transfer, the part that gets Pittsburgh going. The EDGE rushers put their foot on the gas. A statue in the pocket is a green light. These guys can aggressively rush and attack the quarterback unimpeded. Someone who can get away? Yellow light. You don’t stop, but you slow down because you’re anxious to give him a chance. Don’t rush too far forward, don’t take that risk and rush inside, rush to limit instead of rush to sack.

That thought could slow Pittsburgh’s rush – at least a little. And Bo Nix can move and stretch. It was hardly a feat, but he led the Broncos in the rush with 35 yards and their only point, a hard-fought dive over Seattle’s goal line. Nix got to the edge of the defensive player, fooled another defender, and turned into the end zone.

Those plays are hard to stop when you haven’t played against a guy like that in a long time, especially when you’re going against a quarterback like Cousins, who would tear his Achilles again if he even thought about trying something like that. Nix could save the Broncos on a third down with his legs, and his agility can’t be underestimated, especially with his invincible rookie mentality of pushing himself to the limit and sacrificing his body while still feeling good in his 20s and early in his freshman year.

Pittsburgh’s defense should still succeed. There are plenty of reasons to believe they will win in the end. If the Steelers can shut down Denver’s running game, which they should, Nix will be on third-and-long and just as tense as Seattle’s defense. But don’t be shocked to see the remote thrown down as Nix goes 12 yards on a key third-and-8. It could be that kind of day.