Denver Broncos QB Bo Nix: ‘I believe pressure is a privilege’

For their past two games, the Denver Broncos could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory. But the Broncos lost to Los Angeles Chargers 34-27 on Dec. 19 and the Cincinnati Bengals 30-24 in overtime on Dec. 28.

On Sunday, Denver’s last chance to win and get in arrives. At 9-7 after the back-to-back losses, the Broncos would get the final wild-card berth and the No. 7 seed in the AFC playoffs with a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.

“Our goal over the past couple of weeks is to get to 10 (victories),” Denver quarterback Bo Nix said. “And we have another opportunity to do that. I think this lifestyle, this situation, us as quarterbacks, we just kind of live with pressure. And that’s just kind of second nature at this point. So I believe pressure is a privilege. And I was taught that a long time ago. So there’s no pressure without opportunity, so right now, that means we’ve got a great opportunity to go do something special.”

While the Broncos’ season will be on the line on Sunday, Kansas City already has wrapped up the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and the accompanying first-round bye. The Chiefs plan to keep quarterback Patrick Mahomes and as many of their key players as they can off the field on Sunday to be rested and healthy for their opportunity to win a third consecutive Super Bowl.

“We’re going to go like they’re going to play everybody,” Nix said. “That’s not our decision to make. But we have to be ready to go. And we have to compete with whoever they put on the field.”

The Broncos have warmed up for the pressure of the regular-season finale with seven games decided by seven or fewer points this season, including the past two. In its last outing, Denver answered a Cincinnati touchdown with 1:29 left in the fourth quarter with a seven-play, 70-yard drive that produced a TD 81 seconds later to send the game into overtime.

“They’re huge,” Nix said. “And, honestly, there’s no replacing them, so what you get during those games is what you got to go off of, and that’s the true pressure in the moment. That’s the true time that you got to go out there and deliver. And we’ve been able to do that several times. Fortunately, we’ve been put in those situations.

“But at the same time, I think we’re still looking for the one that wins the game. But just those drives in themselves just provide just a layer of confidence that tells you and shows you you can go out there and do it. And we’re really close. And I feel like we say it every week, but, eventually, one of these drives, one of these games, it’s going to lead to having more points in them at the end of the game. And it’s going to be a game-winner.”

The Broncos and Chiefs kick off at 3:25 p.m. CST Sunday at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver. CBS will televise the game.

A former Pinson Valley High School and Auburn standout, Nix will join on Sunday a handful of rookie quarterbacks who have started 17 regular-season games. Mac Jones and Trevor Lawrence did that in 2021, and Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders and Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears also could reach that feat on Sunday.

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