Six weeks ago the Broncos might have been three-and-out.

Six weeks ago, starting quarterback Bo Nix might have soaked his feet, might have tried to get out of the pocket or sailed a throw.

Six weeks ago, Sean Payton had no clear idea of ​​how to open up an opposing defense on the players during his offense in Denver.

Six weeks ago is a long time ago in Broncos Country.

Nix’s development — and his Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign — turned into warp speed on Sunday as he completed 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns and led the Broncos to a 38-6 blowout of Atlanta.

The result? This is much needed for a Denver team coming off a brutal loss to Kansas City and trying to stay in the AFC postseason picture.

The real impact? The Broncos have gone from thinking they had their man, to being pretty confident, to playing like a team that believes in it without a doubt.

“In our league, you learn every week and soon you think, ‘I belong here,’” head coach Sean Payton said of Nix’s development. “It’s clear he belongs here.”

What the No. 12 overall pick in April’s draft did to the Falcons on this day was not only the best game of his career to date, it was one of the most efficient games a rookie quarterback has had in franchise and league history .

“He’s him,” All-Pro cornerback Pat Surtain II said of Nix. “I told him, man, he’s trying to win MVP. Doesn’t even look like an Offensive Rookie of the Year. It now looks like MVP.

“It’s a testament to him. He puts the work in every week and it shows in his preparation.”

Nix joined Marlin Briscoe as the only Broncos rookie quarterbacks to ever throw for more than 300 yards and four touchdowns in a game. And he did it while completing 84.8% of his pass attempts, the best mark in franchise history for any quarterback with more than 30 attempts in a game.

“Every week he gets better and that’s all you can ask for. There’s a reason we made him a captain,” defensive lineman Zach Allen said. “The way he approaches every day and the job is really impressive. It’s good to be on his side.”