Broncos QB Bo Nix on Sean Payton’s decision to play for overtime: “We thought we could move the ball in overtime, but we didn’t”

CINCINNATI — Broncos coach Sean Payton opted to play for overtime rather than deciding the game on a two-point conversion late in Denver’s eventual 30-24 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Saturday night.

And Broncos players lined up in support of their head coach’s decision.

Rookie quarterback Bo Nix threw an improbable touchdown to receiver Marvin Mims Jr. in double coverage on fourth-and-1 to draw the Broncos within 24-23.

Nix after the play held up two fingers as if the visitors were about to try to take the lead. The offense stayed on the field.

All scoring plays get reviewed by the NFL, but in this instance Mims’ catch was close and it took just more than two minutes real time from one official signaling touchdown to the moment referee Adrian Hill announced that the call stood.

Then Denver’s field goal unit trotted onto the field.

“I have no decision-making (power), so I’m trying to go for two,” Nix said afterward. “But at the end of the day, that’s probably not always the wisest decision. I’m glad I don’t make the decisions for our team, because I would go off straight emotion.

“They thought it out, they processed it and in that case it was better to kick a field goal and play in overtime.”

That, of course, did not work. Denver and Cincinnati traded two empty possessions each before Joe Burrow finally ended the game with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tee Higgins.

Part of Payton’s thought process, he said, was that Denver clinched a playoff spot with either a win or a tie.

“We knew going into this game — knew all of that stuff — tie, everything down to it,” Payton said. “So a lot of it is your gut. Relative to how the toss goes, we were moving a little bit on offense and then weighing the percentages of the two-point conversion.

“If the tie element didn’t sit in there, probably it would have been a little bit easier decision.”

Broncos players all said they trusted Payton’s gut to play for overtime.

“That’s not information I get when standing on the field. I think it was the right call either way,” right tackle Mike McGlinchey said. “You take the chance in overtime to fight with our playoff life on the line and guarantee another chance at it.