How the Denver Broncos and their flexible QB can stop that Chiefs' reign.
Former Buffalo Bills coach an analyst is a football expert and plays for Great Britain's national squad.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage features live text for Sunday's games via multiple platforms, beginning with the Broncos-Jets clash in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage can be heard through select stations for another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).
We're in the sixth week of the NFL season , following last week's discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as possible championship contenders, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable in those games was the amount of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia did so at crucial times so they kind of beat themselves having led 17-3 entering the fourth period versus the Denver Broncos, who play in London this Sunday.
However it proved positive to see how Denver quarterback the rookie was able to have the shortfall before lead three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, to win the game 21-17.
The Broncos boast the defensive player of the year with cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are number one in red zone defence, whereas the Eagles are number one in red zone offence, and Denver won that battle.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not always sending extra defenders instead they could position two LBs in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a nickel from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said during a show how the Broncos could be this season's dark horses. They finished the previous year well and did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
New TE their tight end has stepped up significantly while recent running back JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He now ranks 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (4).
I love how head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates how Denver represent a squad aiming to prioritize the run, since one can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces down the pass rush and keeps you in favourable down and distances.
This has benefited QB Bo Nix, who entered into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 TDs – just behind Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess the arm strength to throw anywhere, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He has incredible arm talent, which is different, and he's so athletic.
His strengths include his movement, the capacity to throw on the run, as well as finding different arm angles to make the pass as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He is able to throw that layered pass over the middle or past defenders.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got great poise in the pocket and isn't bothered by extra rushers. He aims to evade being tackled whenever possible and is able throw under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
When you consistently rush it consumes time and forces the opponent to stay in play for longer, and when you've got an athletic quarterback the defence has to cover the area vertically side to side. It can be exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton on the sideline sometimes and I think the coach likes that attitude, seeing him as a fierce rival. I think it's fun for him to have a rookie QB that is similar to play-dough. The coach can truly build something up the way he desires to build it. I believe it's a unique opportunity for him.
The head coach has won a championship and has passed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. I think the success Denver are having on offence is largely down to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix aids make him what he is.
There's no better a better guy guiding you, to assist you during some of the tougher situations and build self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they good enough to face a top squad at full strength? Since that was not a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, I don't think Denver are elite. They're performing better than most, which is a solid position to hold the AFC West. The key is is maintain this trajectory.
They're really good at embracing their forte, which is running the ball, and this is exactly what they must do against the Jets in London. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
New York have allowed 140 yards on the ground per game (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they are the only team without a win a game.
Ever since the NFL started recording takeaways in 1933, the Jets are also the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, which is surprising considering that their new coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach with another team.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after a recent loss by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, Denver have a manageable slate up to their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans plus the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could challenge at leading the division.
It depends on which form of the Chiefs they face since the Broncos {beat|def
