How these Broncos together with the malleable QB could halt that Chiefs' dominance.
Former Buffalo Bills coach an analyst serves as a football expert and plays for the UK's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Real-time updates includes live text for the weekend matchups on various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage is available through select stations covering a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six in the football calendar , after last week's discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their unbeaten records.
Notable during those contests were the amount of penalties both conceded. Philadelphia did so in key moments meaning they kind of beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns going into the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this Sunday.
But it was positive to see that Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to overcome that deficit and then direct three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, to win the victory by four points.
Denver have the top defender with cornerback their star corner. They rank first in red zone defence, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in scoring near the end zone, yet Denver prevailed in that contest.
They executed the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They weren't always sending more than four pass rushers instead they could plug two LBs in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
At the start in the campaign, we said on a program that the Broncos might emerge as this season's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year strongly and did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Are the Denver Broncos this season's underdog story?
New TE their tight end has excelled big while new running back their rusher is a guy the team trusts. He's currently fifth league-wide in ground gains (402) as well as tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
I love that head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" prominently on his call sheet.
This demonstrates how the Broncos represent a squad aiming to prioritize the run, since you can achieve much based on that approach. It slows opposing rushes while maintains in favourable situations.
This has benefited quarterback the young passer, 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 throw anywhere, but they lack in the same way as Nix. He boasts exceptional passing ability, a unique trait, and he's so athletic.
His assets are his mobility, the capacity to pass on the run, as well as using varied release points to deliver throws as he moves out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can throw that layered pass across the middle or over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got great poise in the pocket and is not really fazed by the blitz. He aims to avoid being tackled whenever possible and can throw in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and is very decisive.
If you consistently rush it consumes the clock and makes the opponent to stay in play for longer, and if you've got a mobile QB the defense has to defend the area downfield side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has bitten back with the coach during games at times and I think Payton appreciates that attitude, that he's such a competitor. I think it's exciting for the coach to have a rookie QB that is kind of like moldable clay. The coach can truly build something up the way he wants to build it. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
Payton owns a Super Bowl and has surpassed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen everything. I think the success Denver are having offensively is largely down to his guidance, his play-calling, his situational awareness – and the combination with the QB aids make him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to assist you during difficult moments and build self-belief.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to face a top squad at its best? Because that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Currently, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're working above average, that's a solid position to hold their division. All they need to do is maintain this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, that is the ground game, and this is precisely what they must do against the New York Jets in London. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (10th worst), and they are the only team yet to win any game.
Since the league started recording takeaways in 1933, this team are also the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, which is surprising considering that their new coach Aaron Glenn defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule up to their bye (in week 12) - the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders before the Chiefs.
In their division, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could challenge at leading the West.
This hinges on which form of the Chiefs they face because Denver {beat|def
