Broncos Rumors: Denver Moved Into TNF Because Sean Payton Wants Bo Nix In Spotlight | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s desire to see how rookie quarterback Bo Nix fares in a late-season, prime-time situation reportedly played a role in the Broncos agreeing to be flexed into a Thursday night game in week 16.

Talking about her on Thursday Scoop City podcast (starts at 26:40 in the video)Dianna Russini of The Athletic offered some insight into why the Broncos were fine with the move:

Russini said Payton has a “mindset that they want the spotlight,” adding that they want “all the lights shining on him, all the pressure, all the cameras” on Nix to give him as much big-game experience as possible.

After introducing the ability to bend Thursday night football games last season, the NFL did so for the first time this season, scrapping the scheduled Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals game in favor of the Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

Per ProFootballTalk’s Mike Floriothe Broncos had the right to decline the flex, since the NFL has a policy against teams having two short-week road games in the same season.

Despite that, Payton didn’t have a problem with the move, telling reporters:

“It’s a road game anyway, right? I like that we have another option. I remember this a long time ago, ‘Boys, we’d rather be flexed in than flexed out.” That’s a really good team, playing really well and that rejects Cincinnati who we play the following week so there was a little… But it is what it is and they just tell us when we play.

Payton didn’t elaborate on his point about the Bengals, but Russini noted that the other factor in the Broncos accepting the flex is the fact that it gives them a rest advantage for their Week 17 game against Cincinnati.

The Bengals will now play a Sunday game against the Browns in Week 16, meaning they will play on normal rest in Week 17, while the Broncos will have a few extra days to prepare.

At 7-5, the Broncos have outperformed expectations so far this season and are currently in a wild-card spot.

Nix’s play is a big reason why the No. 12 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft is completing 64.9 percent of his passes for 2,548 yards, 16 touchdowns and six interceptions, while also rushing for 300 yards and four scores.

Many questioned the Broncos’ decision to make Nix the sixth quarterback selected in the first round of the draft, but it has paid off so far, with Denver in position for its first playoff berth since winning the 2015 Super Bowl .

If Nix performs well against another potential playoff team in the Chargers in a primetime road game in Week 16, it could go a long way toward the Broncos both making the playoffs and making some noise when they get there.