Sean Payton: Bo Nix doesn't flinch, gives confidence you're in the game

Through the first three quarters of Sunday's game against the Colts, it looked like the Broncos were going to blow a golden opportunity to solidify their playoff positioning.

The Colts went up 10-0 and they maintained a 13-10 lead heading into the final quarter thanks in part to three interceptions by Broncos quarterback Bo Nix. The Colts kept handing the ball back to the Broncos, though, and Nix finally broke through.

Nix threw two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and the Broncos moved into the sixth seed in the AFC with a 31-13 win that moved them to 9-5 on the season. On Monday, head coach Sean Payton said the performance illustrated why the Broncos have faith in themselves even when games aren't breaking their way.

"Later in that game when we needed it, he didn't flinch," Payton said, via the team's website. "There's a maturity and a moxie about him, which I love. I think it's contagious to the team. When you have that at the quarterback position, your team knows you're in every game. When you don't have it, it's pretty difficult, because deep down in their belly they know that's not the case. That's something you notice with this year, especially, and with this team."

Nix came to the NFL with a lot of college starts under his belt and that likely helps him manage tough stretches of games better than other rookies. That benefitted the Broncos on Sunday and it's been a big factor in their success this season.