Ways these Broncos together with the malleable quarterback could end the Chiefs' dominance.
Former NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert and plays for the UK's flag football team.
- Posted
- 6 Comments
NFL 2025 season: Week six
Real-time updates includes live text of Sunday's games on various channels, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, radio commentary can be heard on select stations covering a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six in the NFL season and following recent discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being possible championship contenders, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable during those contests was the amount of infractions each conceded. The Eagles did so at crucial times meaning they kind of beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns going into the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, set to play overseas this weekend.
However it was good to see that Denver's QB the rookie managed to overcome that deficit before lead three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, to win the game by four points.
Denver have the defensive player of the year with CB Pat Surtain II. They are first in goal-line defense, while Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, and Denver prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't always sending extra defenders instead they could plug two linebackers in the interior then drop them out and dispatch a nickel from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said during a show how Denver might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year well then excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has stepped up significantly while recent RB JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He now ranks 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied for fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
It's impressive that head coach Sean Payton has "RUSH!" prominently on his call sheet.
That shows how Denver represent a squad aiming to run first, since one can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes while maintains in favourable down and distances.
This has benefited quarterback the young passer, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs have the arm strength to pass all over, but they lack the mobility as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, which is different, and he's so athletic.
His strengths are his movement, being able to throw on the run, and finding different arm angles to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can throw that layered pass over the middle or over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he displays a lot of poise under pressure and is not really fazed by the blitz. He tries to avoid being tackled whenever possible and can throw in tight spots. He has a high football IQ and is quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it eats up time and makes the defence to stay on the field for longer, and when you have an athletic quarterback the defense must cover the field downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
The quarterback has bitten back with the coach on the sideline sometimes and it seems the coach appreciates that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's fun for him to have a young quarterback who's kind of like play-dough. He can really develop him how he desires to shape him. I think it's a special experience for the coach.
The head coach has won a championship and has passed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He's seen it all. I think the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly down to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the combination with the QB helps shape him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy in your ear, to help you during difficult moments and boost confidence.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. Yet are they strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Right now, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're performing above average, which is a good place to be in their division. All they need is to continue this path.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, that is the ground game, and that's precisely what they must do against the Jets in London. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five ground scores so far (10th worst), and they are the sole squad yet to win a game.
Ever since the league began tracking turnovers decades ago, the Jets are also the first team to be without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking considering that their new coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' following a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge for the top of the West.
It depends upon which form of the Chiefs they face because the Broncos {beat|def
