Ways the Broncos together with their malleable QB could stop that Chiefs' reign.
Former NFL team coach an analyst is a football expert who also plays for Great Britain's flag football team.
- Posted
- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage includes live text for the weekend matchups via various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage is available on select stations covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six of the football calendar , after last week's talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable in those games was the number of infractions both committed. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times meaning they kind of beat themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this Sunday.
But it was positive to see how Denver quarterback Bo Nix was able to have that deficit and then lead three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game by four points.
Denver have the defensive player of the year with cornerback their star corner. They are first in goal-line defense, whereas Philadelphia are number one in red zone offence, and the Broncos won that contest.
They executed effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They did not always rushing extra pass rushers but they could position two linebackers in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
At the start in the campaign, it was noted during a show that Denver might emerge as this season's dark horses. They ended last season well and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's dark horses?
Recently acquired TE Evan Engram has stepped up big while new running back JK Dobbins is a player the team trusts. He's currently fifth in the NFL in ground gains (over 400) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (four).
I love that the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows how Denver are a squad that wants to run first, since you can do a lot off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush and keeps you in positive situations.
It's also helped QB the young passer, who came into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – second only to a star QB in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess the arm strength to throw anywhere, but they lack in the same way as Nix. He has incredible passing ability, a unique trait, and he's so athletic.
His assets include his movement, being able to throw while moving, as well as finding different arm angles to make the pass as he moves outside protection, on rollouts. He is able to throw that layered pass across the middle and over the corner.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he displays great poise in the pocket and is not bothered by the blitz. He tries to evade a sack as much as possible and can pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains very decisive.
When you consistently rush it eats up time and forces the opponent to stay on the field for longer, and when you have a mobile QB the defence has to cover the area vertically side to side. This proves exhausting.
Nix has pushed back with the coach during games at times and it seems Payton appreciates that fire, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's fun for the coach to have a young quarterback that is similar to moldable clay. He can really develop him how he desires to build it. I think it's a unique opportunity for him.
Payton has won a championship and now surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen everything. I think the success the Broncos are having on offence is largely down to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with the QB aids shape him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy in your ear, to assist you through some of the tougher situations and build self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. But is the team good enough to go against a top squad at its best? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. The key is to continue this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their forte, which is running the ball, and this is precisely what they should do against the Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the only team without a win a game.
Ever since the NFL started recording takeaways decades ago, this team are also the inaugural squad to be without any turnovers through five games, this is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach was previously defensive co-ordinator with another team.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City are off to a poor start following a recent loss by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, Denver have a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans plus the Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 while Denver are even with the Chargers at 3-2 so they could make a run for the top of the division.
This hinges on what version Kansas City shows up they meet because Denver {beat|def
