Do you want a laptop or a quarterback?

The first quarter of the season ended last Sunday and revealed early truths. Bo Nix can handle Sean Payton’s long play calls and responsibility at the line of scrimmage. He has noticed a slow heartbeat despite the loud beeps of the fire alarm ringing around him.

But we can all agree that Nix wasn’t designed just as a processor. He can be much better. And it’s time for Payton and Nix to dance to the same beat against the Raiders this week, time for Nix to announce he’s arrived.

So far, we’ve seen snaps that fit into social media posts like his first drive against Tampa Bay – 4 for 4 for 70 yards – and his third-and-11, Prestone-in-veins throw to Courtland Sutton against the Jets, who helped deliver the game’s only touchdown march.

Given the time, place and opponent, Nix is ​​ready to play his best game and show why Payton selected him with the 12th overall pick.

The Broncos have a respectable .500 record after playing three of their first four games on the road. But it’s because of the Orange Crutch defense. The Broncos are averaging 15.5 points per game, ranking in the bottom third of almost every major offensive category, including total yards, yards per play and net passing.

Nothing has much more to offer. For a long time he seems like a survivor who is aiming for a career as a game manager. That’s not who he is. Nothing has anything to it. We just haven’t seen it yet. At least not for 60 minutes.

It is understood that he is a newbie. He doesn’t act like one. As Payton said Wednesday upon the Broncos’ return to the sun after seven wet days on the East Coast, “We’ve got to step it up now.”

Payton used the analogy of painting the perfect picture and removing Nix from the high. How about this? If the Broncos want to be fast, they need to stop grinding the gears. And this week is an opportunity to redesign the engine.

The Raiders defense stinks. They don’t do anything particularly well. When the Broncos trailed 6-0 at halftime last Sunday, Payton was confident they would win, describing balance as crucial despite recording 16 dropbacks and nine rush attempts. Payton always says the right things. It’s time to take them down, combining his sharp mind with Nix’s skills.

How about four quarters of competent offense? Who is with me? It is October after all. And it’s at home in front of an audience that doesn’t want to see bad and boring things again.

Of all the embarrassments of the last eight years of no playoffs and seven straight losing seasons, there is nothing worse than losing eight straight seasons to the Raiders. These are not the underdogs of Al Davis, who won Super Bowls in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.

These Raiders have a losing record during Denver’s current dominance. There are defining moments in every season, and there should be a Sunday when the Broncos become a boxing glove instead of a speed bag.

“I know it’s important to this organization,” Nix said. “It’s been a long time (without a win).”

We know Vance Joseph’s defense will keep Denver in the game, especially since Las Vegas will likely be without star receiver Davante Adams – he has requested a trade – and running back Josh Jacobs, now in Green Bay.

To not only win, but to be seen as an impressive win, Nix needs to look like this. Beneath his crewcut lies a vicious competitor with daggers in his eyes, always looking for a way to gain an advantage. He should be the best quarterback on the field on Sunday – Gardner Minshew, with his skullet, forever retains the crown of best hair – by a wide margin.

It was difficult to assess Nix due to the strange schedule, poor weather and lack of playmakers.

These are reasons. But by week 5 they start to sound like excuses. Is it too much to ask that Payton start the run with an offensive line that is now consistently winning at the point of attack? It will free Nix and create opportunities for play action, naked bootlegs and run options on fake handoffs.