How the Denver Broncos and the flexible quarterback could halt the Chiefs' rule.
Former NFL team coach an analyst is a football expert who also plays for Great Britain's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
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We're in the sixth week of the football calendar and after recent discussion about two top teams as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their unbeaten records.
Notable during those contests were the number of infractions both committed. Philadelphia did so in key moments so they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 entering the fourth period versus Denver, set to play in London this Sunday.
However it was positive to observe how Denver quarterback the rookie was able to have the shortfall and then direct three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, to win the game by four points.
The Broncos have the top defender with cornerback their star corner. They rank number one in red zone defence, while Philadelphia are number one in red zone offence, yet Denver won that contest.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't always sending more than four defenders instead they could plug two LBs in the 'A' gap then withdrawing them and send a nickel from the outside.
Early on in the campaign, we said on a program how Denver could be this season's dark horses. They finished the previous year well and excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
New tight end Evan Engram has excelled significantly and recent RB JK Dobbins is a guy the team trusts. He's currently 5th in the NFL in ground gains (over 400) and tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
It's impressive how head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates how the Broncos represent a squad that wants to prioritize the run, since you can do a lot off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush while maintains in positive situations.
It's also benefited QB the young passer, who entered 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 in 2020).
Other elite QBs have powerful arms to pass all over, but they lack in the same way as Nix. He boasts exceptional passing ability, which is different, and he is highly agile.
His assets include his mobility, being able to throw while moving, and using varied release points to make the pass as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver precision throws across the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got a lot of composure under pressure and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He aims to avoid being tackled whenever possible and can throw under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains very decisive.
When you constantly rush it consumes time and makes the defence to stay on the field for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defence must defend the field downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
Nix has pushed back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think Payton likes that fire, seeing him as such a competitor. I think it's exciting for him to coach a young quarterback who's kind of like moldable clay. He can really develop him how he desires to shape him. I think it's a special experience for the coach.
The head coach owns a Super Bowl and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen it all. In my opinion the achievements Denver are experiencing offensively is largely down to his guidance, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to assist you through difficult moments and build self-belief.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. But are they good enough to go against an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. The key to do is maintain this trajectory.
They excel at embracing their strength, which is the ground game, and this is exactly what they must do versus the Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five ground scores this season (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad without a win a game.
Since the NFL began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are also 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 at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says the Chiefs are off to a poor start after a recent loss by the Jaguars.
Following the upcoming matchup, Denver face a smooth-ish schedule up to their break (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could make a run at leading the division.
It depends upon which form Kansas City shows up they face because Denver {beat|def
