How the Broncos together with the flexible QB could halt that Kansas City Chiefs' rule.
Ex NFL team coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert and plays for the UK's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage features text commentary of Sunday's games on multiple platforms, beginning with the Broncos-Jets clash in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, radio commentary can be heard through select stations covering a separate game (beginning at 9 PM BST).
We're in the sixth week of the NFL season and following recent discussion regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both lost their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests were the amount of penalties each committed. The Eagles did so in key moments so they kind of beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the final quarter versus Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
But it was positive to observe how Denver's QB Bo Nix managed to have the shortfall and then lead three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game by four points.
The Broncos boast the defensive player of the year in cornerback their star corner. They are first in red zone defence, whereas Philadelphia are number one in scoring near the end zone, yet Denver won that battle.
They executed the Eagles' number regarding disguised blitzes. They weren't necessarily sending extra defenders but they could plug two linebackers in the 'A' gap then drop them out and dispatch a slot defender off the edge.
Early on in the campaign, we said on a program that the Broncos might emerge as this season's surprise contenders. They finished last season well and excelled of building upon that.
Are the Denver Broncos this year's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up significantly and recent running back their rusher is a player the team trusts. He's currently fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (402) and tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
I love that the coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates that Denver are a squad that wants to run first, since one can do a lot based on that approach. It reduces opposing rushes and maintains in favourable situations.
This has helped quarterback Bo Nix, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, throwing 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess powerful arms to pass all over, but they lack in the same way that Nix has. He has incredible arm talent, a unique trait, plus he is so athletic.
His assets include his mobility, being able to throw while moving, as well as using different arm angles to deliver throws as he moves out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can throw precision throws over the middle and past defenders.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he displays a lot of poise in the pocket and isn't bothered by extra rushers. He aims to evade a sack whenever possible and is able pass in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and remains quick to decide.
When you consistently run the ball it consumes time and forces the defence to stay in play extended periods, and when you have a mobile QB the defence must defend the field vertically and horizontally. This proves draining.
Nix has pushed back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think Payton likes that fire, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's fun for the coach to coach a rookie QB who's kind of like play-dough. The coach can truly develop him how he wants to shape him. I believe it's a unique opportunity for him.
The head coach owns a championship and has surpassed a legend for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. In my opinion the success the Broncos are experiencing on offence is largely due to his guidance, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with Nix helps 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 believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to face an elite team at full strength? Since that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Currently, I don't think the Broncos are incredible. They're working above average, that's a good place to be in the AFC West. All they need is to continue this path.
They're really good at leaning into their forte, that is the ground game, and this is exactly what they should do versus the New York Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have allowed 140 rushing yards each contest (sixth worst), five ground scores so far (10th worst), and they are the only team without a win a game.
Since the league began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are also the first team to be without a single takeaway in five outings, which is surprising considering that the head coach was previously a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes stated Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
Following this Sunday's game, Denver face a manageable slate up to their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City hold a losing record and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the West.
It depends on which form of the Chiefs they face since Denver {beat|def
