Ways the Denver Broncos and the flexible QB can halt the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Ex Buffalo Bills assistant coach an analyst serves as a football expert and plays for Great Britain's national squad.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage features text commentary for the weekend matchups via multiple platforms, starting with the Broncos-Jets clash in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Additionally, audio coverage is available on select stations for another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).
It's week six of the football calendar and after recent discussion about two top teams as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their unbeaten records.
Striking in those games were the amount of infractions each committed. Philadelphia did so in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves having led 17-3 entering the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, set to play in London this weekend.
However it proved positive to observe how Denver's QB the rookie was able to overcome that deficit before direct three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, to win the victory 21-17.
Denver have the top defender in cornerback their star corner. They rank first in red zone defence, whereas the Eagles are number one in scoring near the end zone, yet Denver prevailed in that battle.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not always sending more than four pass rushers but they could plug two LBs in the 'A' gap then withdrawing them and send a slot defender off the edge.
Early on in the campaign, we said during a show how the Broncos could be this season's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year strongly then excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
New tight end Evan Engram has stepped up significantly and recent running back JK Dobbins is a guy the team trusts. He's currently fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (402) as well as tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
I love how head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates how Denver are a squad aiming to prioritize the run, because one can do a lot off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes and maintains in positive situations.
It's also helped quarterback Bo Nix, who came the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to a star QB in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs have powerful arms to pass anywhere, however they lack the mobility that Nix has. He has exceptional passing ability, which is different, plus he is so athletic.
His assets include his movement, the capacity to pass on the run, and using varied release points to deliver the pass as he moves outside protection, the bootlegs. He is able to throw precision throws across the middle and over the corner.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he displays great poise under pressure and isn't bothered by extra rushers. He tries to evade being tackled as much as possible and is able throw in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
If you constantly rush it eats up the clock and forces the defence to stay on the field for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defense has to cover the area downfield and horizontally. It can be draining.
The quarterback has bitten back with the coach during games at times and it seems the coach likes that fire, that he's such a competitor. I think it's exciting for him to coach a young quarterback that is kind of like moldable clay. He can really develop him the way he desires to build it. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton owns a championship and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed it all. In my opinion the success the Broncos are experiencing offensively is largely down to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the combination with the QB helps make him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy 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. Yet is the team good enough to face an elite team at its best? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles last Sunday.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, that's a solid position to hold their division. The key is to continue this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, that is running the ball, and this is precisely what they should do against the Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (10th worst), and they are the only team without a win a game.
Ever since the league began tracking turnovers in 1933, the Jets are the inaugural squad to go without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' after a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After this Sunday's game, the Broncos have a manageable slate until their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and the Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could make a run at leading the division.
It depends upon what version Kansas City shows up they face because Denver {beat|def
