How the Broncos and their malleable quarterback could halt that Chiefs' dominance.
Ex Buffalo Bills assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert who also plays for Great Britain's national squad.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage features text commentary for Sunday's games via various channels, starting with the Broncos-Jets clash in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Additionally, audio coverage can be heard through select stations covering another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).
We're in the sixth week of the football calendar , after recent discussion about two top teams as a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Striking in those games was the amount of penalties each committed. Philadelphia committed them in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 entering the final quarter versus Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
However it was positive to see that Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to have the shortfall and then lead three successful possessions in three attempts during the final period, to win the game by four points.
Denver have the defensive player of the year in cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are first in red zone defence, while the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, and the Broncos won that contest.
They had the Eagles' number regarding disguised blitzes. They weren't necessarily sending more than four defenders but they might position two LBs in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a slot defender off the edge.
Early on in the campaign, we said on a program that Denver could be the current year's surprise contenders. They finished the previous year well and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up big and recent RB their rusher is a guy they believe in. He now ranks fifth in the NFL in ground gains (over 400) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
I love that head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows how the Broncos represent a team that wants to run first, since you can achieve much off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes while keeps you in positive situations.
This has helped quarterback Bo Nix, who came the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – just behind a star QB in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have the arm strength to pass all over, however they don't move the mobility as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, which is different, plus he is so athletic.
His strengths are his movement, the capacity to throw while moving, as well as finding different arm angles to deliver throws when he rolls out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can deliver that layered pass across the middle or past defenders.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got a lot of poise in the pocket and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He tries to evade being tackled whenever possible and is able pass in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and remains quick to decide.
When you consistently rush it eats up time and makes the opponent to be in play for longer, and when you have a mobile QB the defense has to defend the field vertically side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton during games at times and it seems the coach appreciates that attitude, that he's such a competitor. I think it's exciting for the coach to coach a young quarterback who's similar to play-dough. The coach can really develop him how he wants to shape him. I think it's a special experience for the coach.
The head coach owns a Super Bowl and has surpassed a legend for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He's seen everything. I think the success the Broncos are having offensively is mostly down to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB aids shape him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy guiding you, to help you through difficult moments and build confidence.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. But is the team good enough to go against an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't championship-level play from Philadelphia last Sunday.
Currently, I don't think Denver are elite. They're working above average, which is a solid position to hold their division. All they need to do to continue this path.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, which is the ground game, and this is exactly what they should do versus the New York Jets in London. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they are the sole squad yet to win a game.
Since the NFL started recording takeaways decades ago, the Jets are the first team to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn defensive co-ordinator with another team.
The Chiefs' QB stated the Chiefs are off to a poor start following Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
After this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule until their break (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, Kansas City 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 what version Kansas City shows up they face since Denver {beat|def
