How the Broncos and the malleable quarterback could halt the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Former Buffalo Bills coach an analyst serves as a football expert who also represents Great Britain's flag football team.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage features text commentary for the weekend matchups on multiple platforms, beginning with the Broncos-Jets clash in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Additionally, radio commentary can be heard on designated networks covering a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week of the football calendar , after recent talk regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Striking in those games was the number of penalties both conceded. Philadelphia did so in key moments so they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 going into the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this Sunday.
But it proved good to see how Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to have that deficit before lead three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, securing the game 21-17.
The Broncos boast the defensive player of the year with CB their star corner. They are number one in goal-line defense, whereas the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, yet Denver prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily rushing extra pass rushers but they could plug two LBs in the interior then withdrawing them and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
At the start in the campaign, we said on a program how the Broncos might emerge as this season's surprise contenders. They finished the previous year strongly then did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Are the Denver Broncos this season's underdog story?
New TE their tight end has stepped up significantly while new RB JK Dobbins is a guy the team trusts. He's currently fifth in the NFL in ground gains (over 400) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (four).
It's impressive how head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
That shows that the Broncos are a squad that wants to run first, because one can do a lot off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes while keeps you in favourable situations.
It's also benefited QB the young passer, who came into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, passing for 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess the arm strength to throw all over, however they lack the mobility that Nix has. He has incredible arm talent, which is different, and he's highly agile.
His assets include his mobility, the capacity to pass on the run, as well as using different arm angles to make the pass as he moves out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can throw precision throws across the middle and past defenders.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he displays a lot of composure under pressure and isn't bothered by extra rushers. He tries to evade being tackled whenever possible and can pass in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and is very decisive.
If you consistently rush it consumes the clock and forces the defence to stay on the field for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defence has to cover the field vertically side to side. It can be draining.
The quarterback has bitten back at Payton on the sideline at times and it seems the coach likes that attitude, seeing him as such a competitor. I think it's exciting for the coach to coach a young quarterback that is kind of like play-dough. The coach can truly build something up how he desires to shape him. I think it's a unique opportunity for him.
The head coach has won a championship and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen it all. In my opinion the achievements Denver are experiencing offensively is mostly down to his guidance, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with Nix aids shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to help you during some of the tougher situations and build self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they strong enough to face an elite team at full strength? Since that was not a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Right now, it's unlikely Denver are elite. They're working better than most, that's a solid position to hold the AFC West. All they need to do to continue this path.
They excel at embracing their forte, which is the ground game, and this is precisely what they should do against the New York Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (sixth worst), five ground scores so far (in the bottom ten), and they are the sole squad without a win any game.
Ever since the league started recording turnovers in 1933, this team are also the inaugural squad to be without a single takeaway in five outings, this is surprising when you think that the head coach was previously defensive co-ordinator with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after a recent loss to Jacksonville.
Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week twelve) - the Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could make a run for the top of the West.
It depends on what version of the Chiefs they meet since Denver {beat|def
