How the Denver Broncos and the malleable QB can end the Chiefs' dominance.
Former Buffalo Bills assistant coach an analyst is a football expert and represents the UK's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Real-time updates includes live text for the weekend matchups on multiple platforms, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary is available through select stations covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week in the football calendar and following recent talk about two top teams being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests were the amount of penalties both committed. The Eagles committed them in key moments meaning they kind of defeated themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the final quarter against Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
However it was good to see how Denver quarterback the rookie managed to overcome that deficit and then lead three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game 21-17.
The Broncos boast the top defender with cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are first in goal-line defense, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, and the Broncos prevailed in that battle.
They had the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They weren't always sending extra pass rushers instead they could position two LBs in the interior then drop them out and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
Early on of the season, we said on a program how the Broncos might emerge as the current year's dark horses. They ended the previous year strongly and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Are the Denver Broncos this year's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE Evan Engram has stepped up big while recent RB JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He's currently 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (four).
I love how the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUSH!" prominently on his call sheet.
This demonstrates that the Broncos represent a team that wants to prioritize the run, because you can achieve much off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush and keeps you in favourable situations.
It's also helped quarterback Bo Nix, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs have the arm strength to pass anywhere, however they lack in the same way that Nix has. He has incredible passing ability, a unique trait, and he's highly agile.
His strengths are his mobility, the capacity to pass while moving, and finding varied release points to deliver throws when he rolls outside protection, the bootlegs. He is able to throw that layered pass across the middle or over the corner.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he displays a lot of poise under pressure and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He aims to evade being tackled as much as possible and is able throw under pressure. He possesses a high football IQ and remains very decisive.
If you consistently run the ball it consumes time and makes the defence to be on the field for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defence has to defend the field vertically and horizontally. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has bitten back at Payton during games at times and it seems the coach likes that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's exciting for the coach to have a young quarterback who's similar to play-dough. He can truly build something up how he desires to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton has won a Super Bowl and has surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen it all. In my opinion the success the Broncos are having on offence is largely due to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the combination with Nix aids make him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to assist you during difficult moments and boost self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. Yet is the team strong enough to go against a top squad at its best? Since that was not championship-level play from Philadelphia last Sunday.
Right now, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're working above average, that's a solid position to hold the AFC West. The key is to continue this path.
They're really good at embracing their forte, which is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do against the Jets in London. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (10th worst), and they are the only team without a win any game.
Since the NFL started recording turnovers decades ago, the Jets are the inaugural squad to go without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
Following the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a smooth-ish schedule until their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, the Texans plus the Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
Looking at the AFC West, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
It depends upon what version of the Chiefs they meet because the Broncos {beat|def
