How the Denver Broncos and the 'play-dough' QB can end the Chiefs' dominance.
Former Buffalo Bills coach an analyst serves as an NFL pundit who also plays for Great Britain's national squad.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Real-time updates includes live text for the weekend matchups on various channels, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage is available through select stations for a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week in the football calendar and after recent talk about two top teams as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable in those games were the number of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the final quarter versus Denver, who play in London this weekend.
However it was good to observe that Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to overcome that deficit and then direct three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, securing the victory 21-17.
The Broncos have the defensive player of the year in cornerback Pat Surtain II. They rank number one in goal-line defense, while the Eagles are number one in red zone offence, yet the Broncos prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies in terms of simulated pressure. They weren't always sending more than four defenders instead they might position two linebackers in the 'A' gap before drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said on a program that the Broncos might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They finished the previous year well and did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Are the Denver Broncos this season's dark horses?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has excelled significantly and new RB JK Dobbins is a guy they believe in. He's currently fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied for fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
I love how head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates how the Broncos represent a squad that wants to run first, because you can achieve much off the back of that. It reduces down the pass rush and maintains in positive down and distances.
This has benefited QB Bo Nix, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to pass anywhere, however they lack in the same way as Nix. He boasts incredible passing ability, which is different, plus he is highly agile.
His strengths are his mobility, the capacity to throw while moving, as well as finding varied release points to deliver the pass when he rolls out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He is able to throw that layered pass over the middle or over the corner.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he's got great poise in the pocket and isn't really fazed by the blitz. He tries to evade a sack whenever possible and is able pass in tight spots. He has sharp intelligence and is very decisive.
If you constantly run the ball it consumes the clock and makes the defence to stay in play for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defense must cover the field downfield side to side. This proves draining.
Nix has bitten back at Payton during games sometimes and it seems Payton appreciates that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for the coach to have a young quarterback who's kind of like play-dough. The coach can really develop him the way he desires to build it. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a Super Bowl and has surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen everything. In my opinion the achievements Denver are experiencing on offence is mostly due to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the combination with Nix helps make him what he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person in your ear, to help you during some of the tougher situations and boost confidence.
I believe in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet is the team strong enough to go against a top squad at full strength? Because that was not 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 their division. The key is to continue this path.
They're really good at embracing their strength, which is running the ball, and this is precisely what they must do against the New York 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 rushing touchdowns this season (in the bottom ten), and they are the sole squad without a win a game.
Ever since the league started recording turnovers decades ago, this team are the first team to be without any turnovers through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach was previously a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs are off to a poor start after a recent loss by the Jaguars.
Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule up to their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are even with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could make a run at leading the West.
It depends upon what version of the Chiefs they meet because the Broncos {beat|def
