SEATTLE — For a moment it looked like quarterback Bo Nix had a little Mile High Magic up his sleeve for his first NFL start.

With 2:09 left in the fourth quarter, Nix ran into the end zone from four yards out to cut Seattle’s lead to 26-20 and give Denver one last chance.

While the Seahawks closed the game with an impressive catch by Tyler Lockett, Nix still gave the Broncos a chance on a day that was filled with problems.

“It was definitely a challenge, to say the least,” Nix said after the game. “I thought they had a really good defense. I thought they played well in their scheme. I thought they regrouped in front of the ball. It was tough to get explosive plays, and I think when you’re struggling to get explosive plays and you have to sustain your drives, you can get into third-and-long and just tough situations. Overall, I think as bad as we were, we gave ourselves a chance to win there at the end. Our special teams and defense played unbelievable. They really kept us in the game and gave us hope. They fought.

“I think in general you appreciate the level of competition of our team. You appreciate that we never give up. We fought. It could have gotten out of hand, but it didn’t, and we were one possession away from a chance, in fact. It’s obviously not the original results you want, but I think we’ll have a confident group, and we’ll bounce back and keep competing.”

Nix completed 26 of 42 passes for 138 yards, two interceptions and a 47.5 quarterback rating, while also having two sacks. However, head coach Sean Payton was impressed with the way his quarterback handled his first start.

“I thought he seemed calm and poised,” Payton said. “I felt that part of it — I felt like he was very comfortable and ready.”

Payton also noted that the Broncos need to play better around Nix. Payton pointed to several dropped passes — he said he was begging the receiving corps on the sideline to get going — and a run game that was “not nearly good enough” as areas where Denver needs to improve. The Broncos head coach also said the team’s protection was “average at best” and praised Nix for making things happen with his legs.

“I thought he was in there,” Payton said. “I never felt like it was too big or too confusing. He was sharp. I thought he even extended some of the plays with his feet. And again, we’ll look at the tape, but we’ve got to manage him better.”

Most importantly, Payton said he believed Nix “gave us a chance” to beat a Seahawks team that battled back in the second half. For veteran receiver Josh Reynolds, who caught five passes for 45 yards in his Broncos debut, the resilience spoke volumes about the rookie.

“I love that: a quarterback who keeps fighting,” Reynolds said.

Tackle Mike McGlinchey shared a similar sentiment after the game.

“I thought Bo did a great job today,” McGlinchey said. “I thought he handled himself well. It’s a tough place to make your first NFL start, especially at quarterback. I thought he handled himself with composure. I thought he ran the huddle well. I thought he was competitive as hell and put his body out there for us. I’m really excited about where he’s going and I know he’s going to look at it and improve as much as anybody else on this team.

Though Nix was intercepted twice — including one near the goal line, intended for Sutton, which Nix later called “a bad call” — he climbed into the pocket late in the first half to complete a 25-yard pass to Reynolds that led to points. He also scampered 23 yards on the Broncos’ final offensive possession to set up Denver’s lone touchdown.

“We’ve got a team that doesn’t give up and we’re going to put everything on the line,” Nix said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s an ugly start, we’re going to keep finding ways to finish.”

As Nix moves on from his first start, it is that continued focus and drive that will prove important. And the answer for Nix and co. may well be within reach.

“I don’t think we were far off,” Nix said.