Ways the Denver Broncos and their flexible QB can end the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Ex Buffalo Bills coach an analyst serves as a football expert who also represents Great Britain's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage features text commentary for the weekend matchups on various channels, starting with the Broncos-Jets clash at Tottenham (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Additionally, audio coverage is available through select stations covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week of the NFL season and following last week's discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their unbeaten records.
Notable during those contests was the number of infractions both committed. Philadelphia did so in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 entering the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, set to play in London this weekend.
But it proved good to see how Denver's QB the rookie managed to have the shortfall and then lead 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 are number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, yet Denver won that battle.
They executed the Eagles' number in terms of simulated pressure. They did not always rushing extra pass rushers instead they could position two linebackers in the interior then withdrawing them and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
Early on of the season, we said during a show how the Broncos might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They ended last season well then excelled of building upon that.
Are the Denver Broncos this year's dark horses?
New TE their tight end has excelled significantly while new running back JK Dobbins is a player the team trusts. He's currently fifth league-wide for rushing yards (402) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive that head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUN IT!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates that Denver represent a squad aiming to run first, since one can achieve much based on that approach. It slows down the pass rush and maintains in favourable situations.
This has benefited QB Bo Nix, who came into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, passing for 29 TDs – second only to Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to pass all over, but they lack the mobility that Nix has. He boasts incredible arm talent, a unique trait, and he's highly agile.
His assets include his movement, the capacity to throw on the run, as well as finding different arm angles to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He is able to deliver that layered pass across the middle and past defenders.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he displays a lot of composure in the pocket and is not bothered by extra rushers. He aims to avoid a sack as much as possible and is able pass in tight spots. He has sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
If you consistently run the ball it eats up time and forces the opponent to stay on the field for longer, and if you've got a mobile QB the defense has to cover the field downfield side to side. This proves exhausting.
Nix has bitten back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think the coach likes that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's exciting for him to coach a young quarterback that is kind of like play-dough. He can really build something up the way he wants to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
The head coach has won a Super Bowl and now passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen it all. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are having offensively is mostly down to his guidance, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix helps make 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 Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Right now, I don't think the Broncos are incredible. They're working above average, that's a solid position to hold the AFC West. All they need to do is maintain this path.
They excel at embracing their forte, that is the ground game, and that's precisely what they should do against the Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
New York have allowed 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (10th worst), and they're the sole squad without a win a game.
Since the NFL started recording turnovers decades ago, the Jets are also the first team to go without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated Kansas City are off to a poor start following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a manageable slate until their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, the Texans and the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
It depends upon what version Kansas City shows up they face because Denver {beat|def
