How these Broncos together with the malleable quarterback could halt the Chiefs' reign.
Ex NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as an NFL pundit who also plays for the UK's national squad.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage includes text commentary for Sunday's games on various channels, starting with the Broncos-Jets clash at Tottenham (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage is available through select stations for another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week in the NFL season and after last week's discussion about two top teams being possible championship contenders, they both lost their perfect starts.
Notable in those games was the number of infractions each committed. The Eagles did so at crucial times so they essentially defeated themselves having led 17-3 entering the fourth period versus the Denver Broncos, who play in London this Sunday.
However it proved good to see how Denver's QB the rookie managed to overcome that deficit before direct three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the victory 21-17.
Denver boast the top defender with cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are first in goal-line defense, while the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, yet the Broncos won that contest.
They had the Eagles' number in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily rushing more than four defenders but they might plug two linebackers in the interior then drop them out and send a nickel off the edge.
At the start in the campaign, we said during a show how Denver might emerge as this season's dark horses. They ended the previous year well and did a good job of building upon that.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up big while recent RB their rusher is a player they believe in. He's currently 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (402) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (four).
I love how the coach Sean Payton displays "RUN IT!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates that the Broncos are a squad that wants to run first, because you can achieve much based on that approach. It reduces opposing rushes and maintains in favourable situations.
It's also helped QB Bo Nix, who entered into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to pass anywhere, however they don't move the mobility that Nix has. He boasts exceptional arm talent, which is different, and he is so athletic.
His strengths are his mobility, the capacity to pass while moving, as well as using varied release points to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can throw precision throws across the middle and past defenders.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he's got a lot of composure under pressure and isn't really fazed by extra rushers. He tries to avoid being tackled as much as possible and is able throw under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
When you constantly run the ball it eats up the clock and makes the opponent to be on the field for longer, and when you've got an athletic quarterback the defense must defend the area vertically and horizontally. It can be exhausting.
Nix has bitten back with the coach on the sideline sometimes and it seems Payton appreciates that fire, that he's a fierce rival. I think it's exciting for him to have a rookie QB that is similar to play-dough. He can truly build something up how he wants to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for him.
Payton owns a championship and has passed a legend for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed everything. I think the success the Broncos are experiencing offensively is largely due to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with Nix helps shape him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person in your ear, to assist you during difficult moments and build self-belief.
I have faith in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they good enough to go against an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't championship-level play from Philadelphia in their last game.
Right now, I don't think Denver are incredible. They're performing above average, that's a good place to hold their division. All they need to do is maintain this trajectory.
They excel at leaning into their forte, which is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do versus the Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (sixth worst), five ground scores so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad without a win a game.
Ever since the league started recording takeaways decades ago, this team are the first team to go without any turnovers through five games, this is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, Denver face a manageable slate up to their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders before the Chiefs.
Looking at the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 while Denver are even with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the West.
It depends on which form Kansas City shows up they meet because Denver {beat|def