Ways these Denver Broncos and their malleable QB could halt the Chiefs' reign.
Former NFL team assistant coach an analyst serves as an NFL pundit who also represents Great Britain's national squad.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage includes text commentary of Sunday's games via various channels, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary can be heard through select stations for another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six in the NFL season and following last week's discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as possible championship contenders, each lost their unbeaten records.
Striking in those games was the amount of penalties each conceded. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the final quarter versus the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this weekend.
However it was positive to observe that Denver's QB Bo Nix managed to overcome the shortfall and then lead three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, to win the victory by four points.
Denver boast the defensive player of the year with cornerback their star corner. They are first in goal-line defense, while Philadelphia lead the league in scoring near the end zone, yet the Broncos won that contest.
They had effective strategies in terms of simulated pressure. They weren't necessarily sending more than four pass rushers instead they could position two LBs in the interior before withdrawing them and dispatch a nickel from the outside.
Early on of the season, we said on a program how Denver might emerge as this season's dark horses. They ended the previous year strongly and did a good job of building upon that.
Could Denver be this season's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up big and new RB their rusher is a guy they believe in. He's currently 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 has "RUSH!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows that the Broncos are a squad that wants to run first, because you can achieve much off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes and keeps you in positive situations.
This has benefited QB the young passer, who came into the league as a first-round selection last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess powerful arms to pass all over, however they lack in the same way that Nix has. He has exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, and he is so athletic.
His assets are his mobility, being able to pass on the run, as well as using different arm angles to make throws when he rolls out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He is able to throw that layered pass across the middle or past defenders.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he displays a lot of poise in the pocket and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He aims to evade a sack as much as possible and is able pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you constantly rush it eats up time and makes the opponent to be in play for longer, and if you have a mobile QB the defence has to cover the field vertically side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back with the coach during games sometimes and I think Payton likes that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. I think it's fun for him to coach a rookie QB who's kind of like play-dough. The coach can truly develop him the way he wants to shape him. I think it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a championship and now passed a legend for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He's seen everything. In my opinion the success the Broncos are experiencing on offence is mostly due to his guidance, his play-calling, his situational awareness – and the pairing with Nix helps make him what he is.
There's no better a better guy guiding you, to assist you during difficult moments and build confidence.
I have faith in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. Yet are they strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Because that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles last Sunday.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're performing above average, which is a good place to hold their division. All they need is is maintain this path.
They excel at embracing their strength, that is the ground game, and that's precisely what they must do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they are the only team without a win any game.
Ever since the NFL started recording turnovers in 1933, this team are also the first team to go without a single takeaway through five games, this is surprising when you think that their new coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
Following the upcoming matchup, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule until their break (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 while Denver are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the West.
It depends on what version Kansas City shows up they meet because the Broncos {beat|def
