Denver put its first-round draft pick on the field immediately, and the payoff was the team’s first playoff appearance in nine years.

The Denver Broncos went on the road to Seattle and lost a 1983 wild-card playoff game 31-7. There was a rookie quarterback named John Elway who played that day.

He suffered the injury during the team's win over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 12. The injury occurred in the first half, but he was later slammed to the ground on his back by Maxx Crosby in the second half, which likely didn't help. Nix ended up completing 70.4% of his passes for 206 yards and two touchdowns in that game.