Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton showed strong confidence in Bo Nix ahead of his NFL postseason debut against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Wild Card round this weekend. On Wednesday, Payton shared an endorsement for Nix's past at Oregon and Auburn while believing he's ready for the moment.
"He's played in a lot of big games. And honestly, last week for him and for many guys, it was like a playoff game. He's seasoned, and he's been in big moments," Payton said, per Sports Illustrated. "And you know what? He's going to play in bigger games.
Nix isn't looking to rest on his laurels as he waits for the biggest prove-it game of his football career at any level.
"It'd be a shame to get this far and then start enjoying where you are and become complacent," Nix said Wednesday. "... We're excited where we are but definitely not going to get complacent. We're going to keep going for more."
Nix was never complacent throughout his rookie year. He famously yelled at Payton on the sidelines in October before he had even proven much. He took revived confidence in Payton from the football-viewing world during the process.
Having played for the Pac-12 Championship against eventual College Football Playoff runner-up Washington, Nix is no stranger to the limelight. An NFL limelight is on a different level, but as a kid who grew up in Alabama and became the most polarizing player on the Tigers or Crimson Tide during his three years on the Plains, that was an unfathomable spotlight for an underclassman.
Nix will be ready. Payton believes it, his teammates believe it, and most importantly, he believes it.