Ways the Broncos and their 'play-dough' quarterback could stop the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Ex Buffalo Bills assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert and represents Great Britain's national squad.
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- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
Real-time updates features text commentary for the weekend matchups on various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Additionally, audio coverage is available on designated networks for a separate game (beginning at 9 PM BST).
It's week six of the football calendar and after recent discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests were the number of penalties both conceded. Philadelphia did so at crucial times so they essentially defeated themselves after leading 17-3 going into the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, set to play in London this Sunday.
But it proved good to observe that Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to overcome the shortfall and then direct three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, to win the game by four points.
The Broncos boast the top defender in CB their star corner. They are number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, yet the Broncos prevailed in that battle.
They executed effective strategies in terms of simulated pressure. They weren't always rushing extra defenders instead they might position two linebackers in the interior then withdrawing them and dispatch a slot defender off the edge.
At the start of the season, we said on a program how the Broncos could be this season's dark horses. They ended the previous year strongly and did a good job of building upon that.
Are the Denver Broncos this year's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up significantly while recent RB JK Dobbins is a guy they believe in. He's currently 5th league-wide for rushing yards (over 400) and tied for fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
I love how the coach Sean Payton displays "RUN IT!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates that the Broncos are a team that wants to prioritize the run, since you can achieve much off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes and keeps you in positive situations.
This has helped QB the young passer, who entered into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess the arm strength to throw anywhere, but they don't move the mobility as Nix. He has incredible arm talent, a unique trait, and he's so athletic.
His assets include his movement, being able to throw on the run, and finding different arm angles to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got great poise under pressure and isn't really fazed by the blitz. He tries to evade being tackled whenever possible and can pass in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and is very decisive.
If you constantly run the ball it eats up time and forces the opponent to stay in play for longer, and when you have an athletic quarterback the defense must cover the area downfield and horizontally. It can be exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think Payton appreciates that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. I think it's exciting for the coach to have a young quarterback that is kind of like moldable clay. He can truly build something up the way he desires to shape him. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a Super Bowl and has surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He's seen everything. I think the achievements the Broncos are having offensively is mostly down to his guidance, his play-calling, his game sense – and the combination with the QB aids make him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person guiding you, to assist you during some of the tougher situations and boost self-belief.
I believe in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to face an elite team at its best? Since that was not championship-level play from Philadelphia last Sunday.
Currently, I don't think the Broncos are incredible. They're performing above average, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. All they need to do is maintain this trajectory.
They excel at leaning into their strength, which is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (10th worst), and they are the only team yet to win a game.
Ever since the league began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are also the first team to go without any turnovers through five games, which is kind of shocking considering that their new coach was previously defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City are off to a poor start following a recent loss to Jacksonville.
Following the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a manageable slate until their break (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
Looking at their division, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the West.
It depends upon which form of the Chiefs they meet since Denver {beat|def
