Ways these Denver Broncos and the 'play-dough' quarterback can end the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Former Buffalo Bills assistant coach an analyst is an NFL pundit and represents the UK's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
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It's week six of the NFL season and after recent talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable in those games were the number of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia committed them in key moments so they essentially defeated themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the fourth period versus Denver, set to play in London this weekend.
However it was good to see that Denver quarterback the rookie managed to have the shortfall before lead three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, securing the victory 21-17.
The Broncos have the top defender with CB their star corner. They rank number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, and Denver prevailed in that battle.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily sending more than four defenders but they might position two LBs in the 'A' gap before withdrawing them and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
Early on of the season, we said during a show that the Broncos could be this season's dark horses. They finished last season strongly then excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up significantly while new running back their rusher is a guy the team trusts. He's currently fifth league-wide for rushing yards (over 400) and tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
I love how the coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates how the Broncos represent a squad aiming to run first, because you can do a lot off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes and maintains in favourable down and distances.
It's also helped QB Bo Nix, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – second only to a star QB in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs have the arm strength to pass all over, however they lack in the same way as Nix. He has exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, and he is so athletic.
His assets are his movement, being able to throw on the run, and finding different arm angles to deliver throws as he moves outside protection, on rollouts. He can throw that layered pass over the middle or over the corner.
For a young quarterback, 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 pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you constantly rush it eats up time and forces the opponent to be on the field extended periods, and if you have an athletic quarterback the defence must cover the area downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
Nix has bitten back at Payton on the sideline at times and it seems the coach appreciates that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for him to have a rookie QB that is similar to play-dough. He can truly build something up the way he wants to shape him. I believe it's a unique opportunity for him.
Payton owns a championship and now surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He's seen everything. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly down to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the combination with Nix aids shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to assist you through difficult moments and build self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're performing above average, that's a good place to be in their division. All they need is is maintain this trajectory.
They're really good at embracing their strength, that is running the ball, and that's precisely what they must do versus the Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have allowed 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five ground scores this season (10th worst), and they're the only team yet to win any game.
Since the NFL started recording turnovers decades ago, the Jets are also the first team to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising when you think that their new coach was previously a defensive coach with another team.
The Chiefs' QB stated the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
Following this Sunday's game, Denver face a smooth-ish schedule until their break (in week twelve) - the Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are even with the Chargers on 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
This hinges upon which form of the Chiefs they face because Denver {beat|def
