How the Denver Broncos together with the 'play-dough' quarterback could end the Chiefs' reign.
Former NFL team coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit and represents Great Britain's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage includes text commentary for the weekend matchups on various channels, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Additionally, audio coverage is available through designated networks for a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week in the football calendar , following recent talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both lost their unbeaten records.
Notable in those games was the number of infractions each committed. Philadelphia committed them in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the fourth period versus Denver, set to play in London this weekend.
But it was good to observe that Denver quarterback Bo Nix managed to overcome the shortfall and then direct three scoring drives in three attempts during the final period, to win the victory 21-17.
The Broncos have the top defender with cornerback their star corner. They rank first in goal-line defense, whereas the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, and the Broncos prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not always sending extra defenders instead they could position two LBs in the interior then withdrawing them and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
Early on of the season, we said on a program that Denver could be this season's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year strongly then excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
New TE Evan Engram has excelled big and new RB their rusher is a guy they believe in. He's currently fifth league-wide in ground gains (over 400) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
I love that head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows how Denver represent a squad aiming to run first, because you can achieve much based on that approach. It slows down the pass rush and maintains in favourable down and distances.
This has benefited QB the young passer, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, throwing 29 TDs – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to throw anywhere, however they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He boasts exceptional arm talent, which is different, plus he's so athletic.
His strengths include his mobility, the capacity to throw on the run, and finding varied release points to make throws as he moves outside protection, the bootlegs. He is able to throw that layered pass across the middle or past defenders.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he's got a lot of composure in the pocket and is not really fazed by the blitz. He tries to evade a sack as much as possible and is able throw in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it eats up time and forces the defence to stay on the field for longer, and when you have a mobile QB the defence must defend the area downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
The quarterback has pushed back with the coach during games sometimes and I think the coach appreciates that fire, seeing him as such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for him to have a rookie QB that is similar to moldable clay. The coach can really build something up how he wants to build it. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton has won a championship and now surpassed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. I think the success Denver are having offensively is mostly due to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with Nix aids make him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to assist you during some of the tougher situations and boost confidence.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they good enough to go against an elite team at its best? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Right now, I don't think Denver are elite. They're working better than most, that's a solid position to be in the AFC West. All they need is to continue this path.
They're really good at embracing their forte, which is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do versus the New York Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have allowed 140 rushing yards each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (10th worst), and they're the sole squad yet to win a game.
Since the league began tracking turnovers decades ago, this team are the inaugural squad to go without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking considering 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 after a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a manageable slate until their break (in week twelve) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans plus the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could make a run at leading the West.
This hinges on what version Kansas City shows up they meet because Denver {beat|def
