How the Denver Broncos and their flexible QB could stop the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Ex NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert and plays for Great Britain's national squad.
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- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage includes text commentary of the weekend matchups via various channels, starting with the Broncos-Jets clash at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary can be heard through select stations for another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six in the football calendar and following recent talk regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being possible championship contenders, each surrendered their unbeaten records.
Striking during those contests were the number of penalties both conceded. Philadelphia did so in key moments so they kind of defeated themselves having led 17-3 entering the fourth period against Denver, who play overseas this Sunday.
However it was good to see that Denver quarterback Bo Nix managed to have the shortfall before lead three scoring drives in three attempts during the final period, securing the victory by four points.
The Broncos boast the top defender with CB Pat Surtain II. They rank number one in red zone defence, whereas the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, and Denver prevailed in that contest.
They executed the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They weren't necessarily sending more than four defenders but they might position two linebackers in the 'A' gap then drop them out and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
At the start of the season, we said during a show how Denver could be this season's dark horses. They ended the previous year well and did a good job of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
New tight end their tight end has excelled significantly while recent running back their rusher is a player the team trusts. He's currently 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (402) as well as tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
It's impressive how head coach Sean Payton has "RUN IT!" prominently on his call sheet.
This demonstrates how Denver represent a team aiming to prioritize the run, since you can do a lot off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes and keeps you in positive situations.
This has benefited QB the young passer, who came the NFL as a first-round selection last year, throwing 29 TDs – second only to a star QB for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess the arm strength to throw all over, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He has incredible passing ability, which is different, and he's so athletic.
His strengths include his mobility, the capacity to throw on the run, as well as finding varied release points to make the pass as he moves outside protection, the bootlegs. He can deliver precision throws over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays great poise in the pocket and isn't really fazed by the blitz. He aims to avoid being tackled as much as possible and is able throw in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains very decisive.
If you constantly rush it consumes the clock and makes the opponent to stay in play extended periods, and if you have a mobile QB the defence must cover the area vertically side to side. This proves draining.
The quarterback has bitten back with the coach on the sideline at times and I think the coach likes that fire, seeing him as such a competitor. I think it's exciting for him to coach a young quarterback who's kind of like moldable clay. The coach can truly build something up how he wants to build it. I think it's a unique opportunity for him.
Payton has won a championship and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He's seen everything. In my opinion the success the Broncos are having offensively is largely down to his leadership, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix helps shape him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy guiding you, to help you during some of the tougher situations and boost self-belief.
I believe in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. Yet are they good enough to go against a top squad at its best? Because that was not a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia last Sunday.
Currently, I don't think Denver are elite. They're working above average, which is a good place to be in their division. All they need is is maintain this trajectory.
They excel at leaning into their forte, which is the ground game, and this is exactly what they must do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
The Jets have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (10th worst), and they are the sole squad yet to win a game.
Ever since the NFL began tracking takeaways in 1933, the Jets are the inaugural squad to be without a single takeaway through five games, which is surprising considering that their new coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated the Chiefs are off to a poor start following a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, Denver face a smooth-ish schedule up to their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at 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 for the top of the division.
This hinges on which form Kansas City shows up they meet since Denver {beat|def
