Bo Nix’s first season in an NFL jersey was an undeniable success and the Denver Broncos are back in the postseason for the first time since Peyton Manning’s undercover season. The Sheriff has been following Nix’s season from afar, clearly enjoying the success the newcomer has brought to his old franchise. On Sunday, he appeared on ESPN to talk about Nix and gave the young QB some candid advice ahead of his first start of the postseason.

In conversation with Mike Greenberg on NFL countdown on SundayManning told Nix that he would tell Nix to just “play freely” because the pressure was very heavy on the Broncos’ opponent, the No. 2 seed Buffalo Bills.

“My advice to him would have been to go out and play freely. The pressure is on the Buffalo Bills. Nobody gives the seventh-placed team a chance. Go out there, take it easy, keep the game tight. In the fourth quarter, when the game is over, Buffalo will really be under pressure now and that’s where the Broncos could have a chance to win this game.

Pretty sound advice from a battle hardened veteran. And Nix apparently didn’t need any advice, as he got going on his very first drive and threw a 43-yard touchdown pass to give Denver a higher seed early.

Nothing plays for free. The question is whether it will be enough to give the Broncos their first playoff win since the 2016 Super Bowl.