2x Broncos Super Bowl champ sounds alarm for Bo Nix and Co. ahead of Bengals game: "I'm nervous"

This week, Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos will face Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. ET. In a game that features two different AFC quarterbacks, Saturday's game is important for both teams' playoff hopes.

Both the Broncos (9-6) and Bengals (7-8) are fighting for wildcard spots in the AFC, as both teams have been eliminated from winning their respective divisions.

Speaking about Saturday's matchup between the two AFC teams, former NFL offensive lineman and two-time Super Bowl winner Mark Schlereth said he is nervous about his Broncos getting into a shootout with the Bengals. He said he trusts Burrow more than the rookie Nix if the game does in fact become a shootout

Schlereth said via Breakfast Ball on FS1:

"Defensively, they've started to leak oil, little bit of oil being leaked on the defensive side of the ball, that scares me a little bit. They have not figured out their run game at all. And you're gonna have to go toe to toe in a shootout Bo Nix versus Joe Burrow. And as much as I love Bo Nix, and I do, I'll take Joe Burrow in a shootout. You're gonna have to hang 30 something on Cincinnati to be able to win this game. I'm nervous."

Comparing the last five games, the Bengals have averaged 30.6 points per game while the Broncos have been giving up an average of 20.8 points per game in that span.

Offensively, the Broncos have averaged 33.2 points per game while the Bengals have given up an average of 26.2 points per game in that span.

Playoff scenarios for Broncos, Bengals: How can each team get in?

Cincinnati Bengals v Denver Broncos - Source: Getty

With two weeks left in the 2024-2025 regular season, playoff spots are getting filled with new teams punching their tickets into the playoffs each week.

Entering Week 17, neither the Denver Broncos nor Cincinnati Bengals have clinched a playoff berth yet. The Broncos are the No. 7 seed in the AFC, holding the last wildcard spot. Denver can clinch a playoff berth with a win this Saturday.

If Denver loses, they would need a win in Week 18 or losses/ties from each of the Bengals, Dolphins and Colts.

The Bengals need to win their last two games to clinch a playoff berth. Other ways the Bengals could get in is if the Broncos lose out, and if the Dolphins and Colts each lose at least one more game.