Ways these Denver Broncos and the flexible QB can halt the Chiefs' dominance.
Ex NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter is a football expert who also plays for the UK's national squad.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
Real-time updates features text commentary of the weekend matchups on various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, radio commentary can be heard through select stations covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six of the football calendar and following last week's discussion about two top teams as possible championship contenders, each lost their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests were the amount of penalties each conceded. Philadelphia committed them in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 entering the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, set to play in London this Sunday.
But it proved good to observe how Denver quarterback Bo Nix managed to have the shortfall before direct three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game by four points.
Denver have the top defender with CB their star corner. They rank number one in goal-line defense, while the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, yet Denver prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily sending extra pass rushers but they might position two LBs in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a nickel from the outside.
At the start of the season, it was noted during a show that Denver might emerge as this season's surprise contenders. They finished the previous year well then excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
New tight end Evan Engram has stepped up big while recent running back JK Dobbins is a guy the team trusts. He's currently fifth league-wide for rushing yards (402) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive that the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUSH!" prominently on his call sheet.
That shows that Denver represent a team aiming to prioritize the run, since one can do a lot based on that approach. It reduces down the pass rush while maintains in favourable situations.
It's also helped quarterback the young passer, who came into the league as a first-round selection last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – just behind a star QB for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to pass anywhere, but they don't move the mobility that Nix has. He boasts exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, plus he is highly agile.
His assets include his movement, the capacity to pass on the run, and using different arm angles to make throws when he rolls outside protection, on rollouts. He is able to deliver that layered pass across the middle and past defenders.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays great poise under pressure and is not bothered by the blitz. He tries to avoid being tackled whenever possible and can pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
If you consistently rush it eats up time and makes the defence to stay in play for longer, and when you have a mobile QB the defence must defend the area vertically and horizontally. It can be draining.
Nix has bitten back at Payton on the sideline sometimes and I think the coach 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 similar to play-dough. He can truly build something up how he wants to build it. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
Payton owns a Super Bowl and now surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. I think the success Denver are having on offence is largely due to his guidance, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with the QB aids shape him what he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to assist you during difficult moments and build confidence.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. But is the team strong enough to go against an elite team at full strength? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, it's unlikely Denver are elite. They're performing above average, which is a good place to hold the AFC West. The key to do to continue this trajectory.
They excel at leaning into their forte, that is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do against the Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards each contest (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win a game.
Since the NFL began tracking turnovers in 1933, this team are the first team to go without any turnovers in five outings, this is kind of shocking considering that their new coach Aaron Glenn defensive co-ordinator with another team.
The Chiefs' QB says the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' following a recent loss by the Jaguars.
Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a manageable slate up to their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, the Texans plus the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Chargers on 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
This hinges upon which form of the Chiefs they meet because Denver {beat|def
