Ways these Denver Broncos and their flexible quarterback could halt the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Ex Buffalo Bills assistant coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit who also represents Great Britain's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
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It's week six in the football calendar and following last week's talk about two top teams being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Striking in those games was the amount of penalties each committed. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times meaning they kind of defeated themselves after leading by two touchdowns going into the final quarter versus the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this weekend.
However it proved positive to observe how Denver quarterback Bo Nix was able to overcome the shortfall and then direct three scoring drives in three attempts during the final period, to win the victory by four points.
Denver have the top defender with cornerback their star corner. They rank first in goal-line defense, whereas the Eagles lead the league in scoring near the end zone, and the Broncos prevailed in that contest.
They executed the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They weren't always rushing more than four defenders instead they might plug two linebackers in the 'A' gap then drop them out and send a slot defender from the outside.
At the start in the campaign, it was noted during a show how the Broncos might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year strongly and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has stepped up big and new RB their rusher is a guy they believe in. He's currently 5th league-wide in ground gains (402) and tied for fourth in rushing scores (four).
I love how head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" prominently on his call sheet.
That shows that Denver represent a squad aiming to prioritize the run, because you can achieve much based on that approach. It slows opposing rushes while keeps you in favourable down and distances.
It's also helped QB Bo Nix, who came into the league as a first-round selection last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to a star QB for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess the arm strength to throw anywhere, but they don't move the mobility as Nix. He has incredible passing ability, which is different, plus he is so athletic.
His assets are his mobility, being able to pass while moving, and finding varied release points to make the pass as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays great poise under pressure and is not bothered by the blitz. He aims to evade a sack whenever possible and is able throw in tight spots. He has sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it consumes the clock and forces the defence to be on the field extended periods, and when you've got an athletic quarterback the defence must cover the field downfield and horizontally. It can be exhausting.
The quarterback has bitten back at Payton during games at times and it seems the coach appreciates that attitude, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's fun for him to have a young quarterback who's similar to moldable clay. He can really develop him the way he desires to build it. I think it's a special experience for the coach.
The head coach owns a championship and now surpassed a legend for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. I think the achievements the Broncos are having on offence is mostly down to his guidance, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him what he is.
There's no better a more qualified person guiding you, to assist you during difficult moments and build self-belief.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they strong enough to go against an elite team at full strength? Because that was not championship-level play by the Eagles last Sunday.
Currently, it's unlikely Denver are incredible. They're performing better than most, that's a good place to hold their division. All they need is to continue this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, that is running the ball, and this is precisely what they should do versus the New York Jets in London. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
The Jets have allowed 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win any game.
Ever since the league began tracking takeaways in 1933, the Jets are also the inaugural squad to go without a single takeaway through five games, this is surprising considering that their new coach was previously a defensive coach with another team.
The Chiefs' QB says the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
Following the upcoming matchup, Denver have a manageable slate until their bye (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
This hinges upon which form Kansas City shows up they meet because Denver {beat|def
