Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s desire to see how rookie quarterback Bo Nix performs late in the season and in prime time reportedly played a role in the Broncos agreeing to play in Week 16 for a Thursday night game become.

I’ll talk about them on Thursday Scoop City Podcast (from the 26:40 mark of the video)Dianna Russini of The Athletic gave some insight into why the Broncos were okay with the move:

Russini said Payton has the “mentality that they want to be in 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 experience as possible in big games.

After introducing the ability to bend Football on Thursday evenings In the final games of last season, the NFL did this for the first time this season, postponing the scheduled Cleveland Browns vs. Cincinnati Bengals game in favor of the Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers in Week 16.

According to ProFootballTalk’s Mike Florio, the Broncos had the right to decline the flex because the NFL has a policy against teams playing two short midweek road games in the same season.

Still, Payton had no problem with the move, telling reporters:

“It’s an away game anyway, right? I like the fact that we have another chance. I remember this a long time ago: ‘Boys, we’d rather get in than get kicked out.’ It’s a really good team that plays really well and it gives Cincinnati a choice of who we’re going to play next week. So there was a little bit… But it is what it is and they just tell us when we play.”

Payton didn’t elaborate on his stance on the Bengals, but Russini noted that the other factor leading the Broncos to accept the flexion is the fact that it gives them a rest advantage heading into their Week 17 game against Cincinnati have.

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

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

Nix’s play is a big reason why, as 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 so far it has paid off and Denver is on its way to its first playoff berth since winning the Super Bowl in 2015.

If Nix performs well in a prime-time away game against another potential playoff team, the Chargers, in Week 16, it could go a long way toward helping the Broncos both make the playoffs and make some noise there.