Bo Nix's dark horse Rookie of the Year campaign has the same problem as his Heisman hunt: Jayden Daniels

On a surprisingly competent Denver Broncos team, Bo Nix is focused and having fun and might be a dark horse for this year's Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Over the last month of play, the young quarterback has thrown nine touchdowns to just one interception. For his stellar performance against the Atlanta Falcons, Nix was even named AFC Offensive Player of the Week and made some rather unique history in the process.

But just like his final season with the Oregon Ducks, where Nix was a top-tier Heisman Trophy candidate, the same person will probably stop Nix from getting an award for the second year in a row.

I'm talking, of course, about the Washington Commanders' Jayden Daniels, who beat out Nix (and Michael Penix Jr.) for last year's Heisman as a standout member of the LSU Tigers.

Even after Nix's hot streak and Daniels' own recent relative struggles, Daniels remains favored with -600 odds over Nix (+400) to win Offensive Rookie of the Year. This is according to oddsmakers at BetMGM:

I'm not going to completely rule out the possibility that Nix overtakes Daniels by the end of the season. Denver does have a favorable schedule that features three of the worst defenses in the NFL over the next six weeks. He could, theoretically, shred them the way he has every other porous defense he's faced so far.

By that same token, the Broncos still have to play the Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers, and Kansas City Chiefs -- who all boast elite to borderline elite defenses. That is a different challenge that is much more likely to sink Nix's chances unless he absolutely cuts them up like a surgeon.

On the flip side, Daniels faces precisely one capable defense down the stretch -- Vic Fangio's dominant Philadelphia Eagles. From Tennessee to Dallas (twice), everyone else is a cupcake. He can probably cruise to being recognized as the top rookie.

Nix has had a great year and should be celebrated for being part of a mini Broncos Renaissance. It's been a long time since the Broncos actually seemed worth writing home about, and he's a big part of that. But if Nix really cares about individual honors, he should probably brace himself to fall short of Daniels.

Again.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Bo Nix's dark horse Rookie of the Year campaign has the same problem as his Heisman hunt: Jayden Daniels