How these Broncos and the flexible QB can stop that Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Ex NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as an NFL pundit and represents the UK's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Real-time updates includes text commentary of the weekend matchups via various channels, beginning with the Broncos-Jets clash at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary is available through select stations covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six of the NFL season , following last week's talk regarding two top teams being a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both lost their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests was the amount of penalties both committed. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 entering the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, who play in London this weekend.
But it proved positive to observe that Denver's QB Bo Nix managed to overcome that deficit before direct three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game 21-17.
Denver boast the top defender in cornerback Pat Surtain II. They rank first in red zone defence, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, yet the Broncos prevailed in that contest.
They executed the Eagles' number in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not always sending more than four defenders but they could plug two linebackers in the interior before drop them out and send a slot defender from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said on a program how Denver might emerge as this season's dark horses. They finished last season strongly then excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has stepped up significantly while recent RB JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He now ranks fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (402) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (four).
It's impressive that the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates how the Broncos are a squad aiming to run first, because one can achieve much off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush and maintains in positive down and distances.
This has helped quarterback the young passer, who entered into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 TDs – second only to a star QB for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to pass anywhere, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He boasts incredible arm talent, which is different, plus he is so athletic.
His strengths include his mobility, the capacity to throw on the run, as well as finding different arm angles to make the pass as he moves outside protection, the bootlegs. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle and past defenders.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he displays a lot of composure under pressure and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He tries to avoid being tackled as much as possible and is able pass under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and is very decisive.
When you constantly run the ball it consumes time and makes the defence to stay on the field extended periods, and if you have a mobile QB the defense has to defend the area downfield and horizontally. This proves exhausting.
Nix has bitten back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think the coach likes that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. I think it's fun for him to coach a rookie QB that is similar to moldable clay. The coach can truly build something up the way he wants to build it. I think it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a championship and now surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed everything. I think the achievements the Broncos are having on offence is mostly due to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the combination with the QB helps make him what he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person guiding you, to assist you through difficult moments and boost confidence.
I believe in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Because that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, I don't think Denver are incredible. They're working above average, that's a solid position to be in the AFC West. All they need to do is maintain this path.
They're really good at embracing their strength, that is running the ball, and this is exactly what they should do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards each contest (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (10th worst), and they're the sole squad without a win a game.
Since the NFL started recording takeaways decades ago, this team are also the inaugural squad to be without any turnovers through five games, which is kind of shocking considering that the head coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says the Chiefs are off to a poor start following a recent loss by the Jaguars.
After the upcoming matchup, Denver face a manageable slate up to their bye (in week twelve) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could challenge at leading the West.
It depends on which form Kansas City shows up they face since the Broncos {beat|def