Ways these Denver Broncos together with their 'play-dough' quarterback could end that Chiefs' dominance.
Former NFL team assistant coach an analyst serves as a football expert who also represents Great Britain's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
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We're in the sixth week of the football calendar and following recent talk regarding two top teams as a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable during those contests was the number of penalties both conceded. The Eagles did so at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves having led 17-3 entering the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, who play in London this Sunday.
But it proved positive 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, securing the game by four points.
Denver have the defensive player of the year in cornerback their star corner. They are number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles are number one in scoring near the end zone, and the Broncos prevailed in that contest.
They executed effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily sending more than four defenders instead they could position two LBs in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
At the start in the campaign, we said on a program how Denver could be this season's dark horses. They finished last season well then did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's dark horses?
Recently acquired TE Evan Engram has stepped up big and new running back their rusher is a guy the team trusts. He now ranks fifth league-wide for rushing yards (over 400) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive that head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows how Denver represent a team that wants to prioritize the run, because one can do a lot off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush while maintains in favourable situations.
This has benefited quarterback Bo Nix, who came the NFL as a first-round selection in the prior draft, throwing 29 TDs – second only to a star QB in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess powerful arms to throw all over, but they don't move in the same way as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, which is different, plus he is highly agile.
His assets include his movement, being able to throw on the run, as well as using varied release points to deliver the pass when he rolls out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can throw precision throws over the middle and past defenders.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he's got great composure in the pocket and is not really fazed by the blitz. He aims to avoid a sack as much as possible and can pass under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it consumes time and makes the opponent to stay on the field for longer, and if you've got a mobile QB the defence has to cover the area vertically side to side. It can be draining.
The quarterback has bitten back at Payton during games sometimes and I think Payton appreciates that fire, seeing him as such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for the coach to have a rookie QB who's similar to moldable clay. He can really develop him the way he wants to build it. I think it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
Payton owns a Super Bowl and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. In my opinion the achievements Denver are having offensively is largely due to his guidance, his play-calling, his situational awareness – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person guiding you, to help you during difficult moments and boost confidence.
I believe in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they good enough to face an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles last Sunday.
Right now, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're performing better than most, that's a good place to be in their division. The key to do to continue this trajectory.
They excel at embracing their strength, which is running the ball, and this is exactly what they must do versus the New York Jets in London. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards each contest (among the worst), five ground scores so far (10th worst), and they are the sole squad without a win any game.
Since the league began tracking takeaways in 1933, the Jets are the first team to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising when you think that the head coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City are off to a poor start following a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a manageable slate until their bye (in week twelve) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and Las Vegas Raiders before the Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could make a run for the top of the division.
It depends upon which form of the Chiefs they face since the Broncos {beat|def
