Ways the Broncos and their 'play-dough' QB could stop the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Ex Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit and plays for the UK's flag football team.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Real-time updates features text commentary of the weekend matchups on multiple platforms, beginning with the Broncos-Jets clash in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Additionally, radio commentary is available through designated networks covering another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).
It's week six in the football calendar and after last week's talk about two top teams being possible championship contenders, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable during those contests was the amount of infractions each conceded. The Eagles committed them in key moments so they kind of defeated themselves having led by two touchdowns entering the final quarter versus Denver, set to play in London this weekend.
However it proved good to see how Denver quarterback Bo Nix was able to overcome that deficit before lead three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game by four points.
The Broncos boast the top defender in CB Pat Surtain II. They are number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, and the Broncos won that contest.
They executed effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily sending more than four defenders but they could plug two LBs in the 'A' gap before drop them out and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
Early on of the season, we said during a show that Denver could be the current year's dark horses. They finished the previous year strongly and excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this season's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has excelled big and recent running back their rusher is a guy they believe in. He's currently fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (402) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive how head coach Sean Payton has "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates that Denver represent a team aiming to run first, since you can achieve much off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes and maintains in positive situations.
It's also helped quarterback Bo Nix, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs have the arm strength to throw anywhere, however they don't move the mobility that Nix has. He has exceptional passing ability, which is different, plus he is highly agile.
His assets include his mobility, the capacity to throw while moving, as well as finding varied release points to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can throw precision throws across the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got a lot of poise in the pocket and isn't bothered by the blitz. He aims to evade a sack as much as possible and is able pass under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it consumes the clock and forces the opponent to be in play for longer, and when you have a mobile QB the defence has to defend the field vertically side to side. This proves draining.
The quarterback has pushed back with the coach during games at times and I think the coach appreciates that attitude, seeing him as such a competitor. I think it's fun for him to coach a rookie QB who's similar to moldable clay. He can truly build something up the way he desires 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 it all. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly due to his guidance, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy in your ear, to help you during some of the tougher situations and boost confidence.
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 wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles last Sunday.
Currently, I don't think Denver are elite. They're working above average, that's a solid position to hold their division. The key to do is maintain this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, that is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do against the New York Jets in London. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have allowed 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win a game.
Ever since the league began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers in five outings, which is kind of shocking when you think that their new coach was previously a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs are off to a poor start following a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a manageable slate until their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders before the Chiefs.
Looking at their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could make a run at leading the West.
This hinges upon what version of the Chiefs they face because Denver {beat|def
