How the Denver Broncos together with their 'play-dough' quarterback could end the Chiefs' rule.
Former NFL team coach an analyst is a football expert who also plays for Great Britain's flag football team.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
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It's week six in the NFL season and following recent talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both surrendered their unbeaten records.
Notable during those contests was the number of infractions both committed. The Eagles did so in key moments meaning they kind of beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the final quarter against Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
However it was good to observe that Denver quarterback Bo Nix managed to have that deficit before direct three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, to win the victory 21-17.
Denver boast the top defender in CB Pat Surtain II. They are number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, yet Denver won that battle.
They had effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They weren't necessarily rushing more than four pass rushers but they could position two LBs in the interior then withdrawing them and send a nickel off the edge.
Early on of the season, we said on a program how the Broncos might emerge as this season's dark horses. They finished the previous year well then excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
Recently acquired tight end Evan Engram has stepped up significantly and recent running back JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He's currently 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (402) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (four).
I love how the coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" prominently on his call sheet.
That shows that the Broncos are a team aiming to run first, because you can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces down the pass rush and maintains in positive down and distances.
It's also helped QB the young passer, who came the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick last year, throwing 29 TDs – just behind Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs have the arm strength to throw anywhere, however they lack in the same way as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, a unique trait, and he's so athletic.
His strengths are his movement, the capacity to pass on the run, and finding varied release points to make the pass when he rolls out of the pocket, on rollouts. He is able to throw that layered pass over the middle and past defenders.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he displays great poise under pressure and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He tries to avoid a sack as much as possible and can throw in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and is very decisive.
If you consistently rush it eats up time and makes the opponent to be in play extended periods, and when you have an athletic quarterback the defence has to defend the area downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
Nix has pushed back with the coach during games at times and I think Payton likes that attitude, seeing him as such a competitor. I think it's fun for the coach to have a young quarterback who's kind of like moldable clay. He can really build something up how he wants to shape him. I think it's a special experience for him.
Payton has won a Super Bowl and now surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen everything. I think the achievements Denver are experiencing on offence is mostly down to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the combination with Nix helps shape him into who he is.
There's no better a more qualified person in your ear, to assist you during some of the tougher situations and build self-belief.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But is the team strong enough to face a top squad at its best? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, which is a good place to be in the AFC West. The key to do is maintain this path.
They excel at leaning into their forte, which is running the ball, and that's precisely what they must do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (sixth worst), five ground scores so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win a game.
Ever since the league began tracking takeaways in 1933, this team are also the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, this is surprising considering that their new coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated the Chiefs are off to a poor start following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
Following this Sunday's game, Denver face a manageable slate up to their break (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders before the Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City are 2-3 while Denver are even with the Chargers at 3-2 so they could make a run at leading the division.
This hinges on which form Kansas City shows up they meet because Denver {beat|def
