How these Broncos together with their malleable QB can halt the Kansas City Chiefs' rule.
Former Buffalo Bills coach an analyst serves as a football expert who also represents the UK's national squad.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage features live text for Sunday's games via multiple platforms, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary is available through select stations for a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six of the football calendar , after recent discussion regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable in those games was the amount of penalties each conceded. Philadelphia did so at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this Sunday.
But it was positive to see that Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to overcome that deficit before direct three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the victory 21-17.
The Broncos have the top defender in CB their star corner. They are number one in red zone defence, whereas the Eagles are number one in red zone offence, yet Denver prevailed in that battle.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't always sending more than four pass rushers instead they might plug two linebackers in the 'A' gap then drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
At the start of the season, it was noted on a program how Denver might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They finished the previous year strongly then did a good job of building upon that.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
Recently acquired tight end their tight end has excelled big and new RB JK Dobbins is a guy they believe in. He's currently fifth league-wide for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (four).
It's impressive how head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows that Denver are a team that wants to run first, since one can achieve much based on that approach. It slows opposing rushes while maintains in favourable situations.
It's also helped quarterback Bo Nix, who entered the NFL as a first-round selection in the prior draft, passing for 29 TDs – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to throw all over, but they don't move the mobility as Nix. He boasts incredible passing ability, which is different, plus he's so athletic.
His assets are his movement, the capacity to throw while moving, as well as finding different arm angles to make throws as he moves outside protection, on rollouts. He can throw that layered pass over the middle or past defenders.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays a lot of composure under pressure and isn't really fazed by extra rushers. He aims to evade being tackled whenever possible and is able throw in tight spots. He has sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
When you consistently rush it consumes time and forces the opponent to stay on the field for longer, and if you have an athletic quarterback the defense must cover the field vertically and horizontally. It can be exhausting.
Nix has bitten back with the coach during games sometimes and I think Payton appreciates that fire, seeing him as a fierce rival. I think it's exciting for him to coach a young quarterback that is kind of like moldable clay. The coach can really build something up the way he desires to build it. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton has won a championship and has surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are experiencing on offence is largely due to his leadership, his play-calling, his situational awareness – and the combination with the QB helps make him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to assist you through some of the tougher situations and build confidence.
I have faith in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. But are they strong enough to face an elite team at full strength? Since that was not a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles in their last game.
Currently, I don't think the Broncos are incredible. They're performing better than most, that's a good place to be in their division. The key is is maintain this path.
They excel at leaning into their forte, which is running the ball, and this is exactly what they should do against the New York Jets in London. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win any game.
Since the league began tracking turnovers in 1933, the Jets are the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, this is surprising when you think that their new coach was previously defensive co-ordinator with another team.
The Chiefs' QB stated Kansas City are off to a poor start following Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
After this Sunday's game, the Broncos have a smooth-ish schedule up to their bye (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans plus the Raiders before the Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs hold a losing record and the Broncos are even with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could challenge at leading the division.
It depends upon what version Kansas City shows up they face because the Broncos {beat|def
