With a short week of work, Bo Nix is cramming for a test from the Chiefs

With only three days to prepare, the Broncos quarterback knows that it'll be a challenge to win at Arrowhead on Christmas night

BY JAMES MERILATT

Dec 23, 2025, 3:47 PM Updated: 5:45 pm

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Bo Nix has dealt with a short week before. Last year, the Broncos quarterback faced two Thursday tests, beating the Saints in Week 7 and falling to the Chargers in Week 16. This season, he’s also had the challenge, finding a way to win at Las Vegas in Week 10.

So Nix knows what ahead as Denver heads into a Christmas night showdown in Kansas City. Even though the Chiefs might be depleted, especially at quarterback, the defending AFC champions won’t be as easy to beat as some people think.

Why? Because the Broncos won’t have their normal time to prepare. And Nix knows it.

“You’re limited with only three days of work,” the QB said on Tuesday after practice. “You have to cram it in on shorter notice.”

By cramming, he means studying. He’s going to have to get a lot done in a short amount of time.

“It’s all the retention with all of the plays,” Nix added, referring to this week’s game plan. “And all of the looks that you could get with those plays.”

While that poses a challenge, there is one benefit to the game being against an AFC West foe. Nix and company aren’t starting from scratch with their game prep.

“Thank goodness it’s a team that I’ve played already this year,” the quarterback added. “It feels like an extension of the first game.”

It’ll be Nix’s fourth game against the Chiefs during his nearly two seasons in Denver, so he’s familiar with the foe. The QB nearly won in Kansas City last season, as the Broncos fell 16-14 when a Wil Lutz field goal to win the game was blocked at the gun. His team blew out the JV version of KC in last season’s finale, winning 38-0. And the quarterback led his club to a win earlier this year, getting a 22-19 win in Week 11.

That experience will help. The fact that Kansas City is in the same boat will, as well.

“At the same time, they have to do it too,” Nix said about the short week of prep. “They aren’t going to be able to do what they would do on a normal week.”

The condensed work is just one of the reasons the Broncos aren’t buying into their Christmas game being a layup. They know it won’t be easy at Arrowhead on Thursday night.

“I know it hasn’t been the season that they wanted,” Nix said about K.C. “But they’re still the Chiefs.”