Of the NFL’s three rookie quarterbacks, Bo Nix was surrounded by the most questions on Sunday.

He led a late touchdown drive to keep the Denver Broncos afloat, but otherwise provided few encouraging answers in a 26-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Nix struggled as he led a stagnant Denver offense. He was under heavy pressure from an aggressive Seahawks defense that was looking to unsettle the rookie quarterback. He repeatedly responded with ill-advised downfield throws that resulted in incompletions and a pair of interceptions. Two Broncos drives that began in the Seahawks red zone ended in field goals.

Nix’s second interception drew a resounding “oh no” from CBS’s Adam Archuleta, who saw the pass destined for a turnover before Tariq Woolen intercepted the ball.

That interception stymied a late comeback attempt with the Seahawks leading 26-13. When the day was over, Nix completed 26 of 42 attempts for 138 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He averaged 3.3 yards per attempt. He added 35 yards on five carries, including a late touchdown run that cut Denver’s deficit to one score before the Seahawks ran out the clock.

Early chances missed for Broncos

Denver’s offense got a head start when an Alex Singleton interception of Geno Smith put the Broncos at the Seattle 20-yard line on the game’s first possession. The Broncos gained 3 yards and settled for a field goal for a 3-0 lead.

The Broncos followed with three-and-outs on their next two drives before threatening to score their first touchdown. But Nix threw downfield off his back foot into double coverage in the end zone that Julian Love intercepted.

Denver’s next possession ended with a three-and-out, before the Broncos saw another possession that started in the red zone — this time on the 9-yard line after a failed Seattle punt return.

The Broncos lost 2 yards on the possession and shot a field goal. Nix was flagged for a false start on first down after leaving his position under center before the snap, giving the Broncos a first-and-goal from the 14. After two runs, Nix again threw into double coverage in the end zone. This time, his pass to Courtland Sutton was incomplete.

Denver’s second-half possessions included three three-and-outs, a fumble by Jaleel McLaughlin and Nix’s second interception before the Broncos found the end zone for the first time on their final drive. Nix escaped pressure on a first-and-goal pass play and ran straight into the end zone.

But it was too little, too late, as the Seahawks ran out the clock on their next possession.

On the day, Denver accumulated 231 yards of total offense and turned the ball over twice. It failed to capitalize on two Seahawks turnovers and two safeties secured by the Broncos’ defense. Denver converted 5 of 18 third-down attempts.

How will Nix develop?

Nix was the sixth and final quarterback taken in the first round of April’s NFL Draft with the 12th pick out of Oregon. The selection drew criticism from analysts who questioned whether Nix was a first-round prospect. The selection put pressure on second-year head coach Sean Payton, whose fate will depend on Nix’s successes and failures.

The Broncos now have a week to prepare for Nix’s home debut next Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.