Even though Bo Nix threw three interceptions in Sunday’s game against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton found something he liked a lot about the rookie quarterback’s performance.

After the three interceptions, Nix led the Denver offense to 17 points, and with the Broncos also scoring a defensive touchdown in that span, the team came away with a 31-13 victory over the Colts.

“This is a tough league sometimes,” Payton said on Monday, “and I felt afterwards, when something like that happens, with that adversity early on, I get frustrated at myself. Am I getting him in the right looks, the right plays? But then later in that game, when we needed it, he didn’t flinch.

“There’s a maturity and a moxie about him, which I love. And I think it’s contagious to the team. And when you have that at the quarterback position, your team knows you’re in every game. And when you don’t have it, when you don’t have it, that’s pretty difficult because deep down in their belly, they know that that’s not the case. And that’s something noticeably, I mean, you notice with him this year, especially, and with this team.”

A former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn quarterback, Nix said he understands the team is taking some of its cues from him.

“I’ve had a lot of reps at it,” Nix said on Tuesday about reacting to adversity. “I’ve had many mistakes in my lifetime, going all the way back to seventh grade when I started playing. You throw picks, and you’ve got to move on. I’ve been on the opposite side and shown bad body language.

“It’s just reps and just resiliency and just learning that you’re going to get a new opportunity. You’ve got to flush it and move on to the next. Hopefully, you keep from doing it again. Whatever happens, whether good or bad, they’re looking at you. That’s the fact of the game. That’s what it is, so I have to treat it accordingly and have good body language and move on.”

Sunday’s victory moved the Broncos to 9-5 and one win away from clinching a spot in the AFC playoff field. Denver’s first opportunity to get that victory comes on Thursday, when the Broncos play the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West game at 7:15 p.m. CST at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

Twelve NFL teams have made the playoffs with a rookie quarterback who started at least 15 games. Even fewer rookie quarterbacks have been the starter in 10 victories – nine.

“We’ve talked about all year — the next game is the most important game,” Nix said. “Right now, this is what’s important to us, and it’s the most important. I think this next one would put us on track for where we want to go, so we have a lot of work to do. The job’s not finished, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

To reach the postseason, Denver needs one victory in its final three regular-season games. If the Broncos don’t get it on Thursday night, they have the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 28 and the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 5 remaining on their schedule.

Denver could lose to the Chargers and still be in the playoffs by Sunday night, if the Miami Dolphins, Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts lose their Week 16 games.

Nix isn’t contemplating the scenarios.

“We got three games to win three and go into the playoffs and win a Super Bowl,” Nix said.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.