How these Denver Broncos together with the malleable QB can stop that Chiefs' reign.
Ex NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert who also represents the UK's national squad.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
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We're in the sixth week of the NFL season and following recent discussion regarding two top teams being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their perfect starts.
Notable in those games were the amount of penalties each conceded. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns going into the final quarter versus Denver, who play overseas this weekend.
But it proved good to see how Denver quarterback Bo Nix was able to have that deficit before lead three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game 21-17.
The Broncos have the defensive player of the year in CB Pat Surtain II. They are number one in red zone defence, while the Eagles are number one in red zone offence, and the Broncos won that contest.
They had the Eagles' number regarding disguised blitzes. They did not always sending more than four defenders but they might position two linebackers in the interior then withdrawing them and send a slot defender from the outside.
At the start of the season, it was noted during a show how Denver might emerge as the current year'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 excelled significantly and new running back their rusher is a player the team trusts. He now ranks fifth league-wide in ground gains (over 400) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
I love that the coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows that Denver are a squad that wants to prioritize the run, since one can achieve much off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes while keeps you in positive situations.
It's also helped quarterback Bo Nix, who entered the NFL as a first-round selection in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs have powerful arms to pass all over, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He has exceptional arm talent, which is different, and he is highly agile.
His assets include his movement, being able to pass on the run, as well as finding varied release points to make the pass as he moves out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got a lot of poise in the pocket and isn't really fazed by extra rushers. He tries to avoid a sack whenever possible and can throw under pressure. He possesses a high football IQ and is very decisive.
When you constantly run the ball it consumes the clock and makes the defence to stay in play for longer, and when you have an athletic quarterback the defense has to defend the field vertically side to side. This proves draining.
Nix has bitten back at Payton during games at times and it seems Payton likes that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for the coach to coach a young quarterback who's similar to moldable clay. He can really develop him the way he wants to shape him. I think it's a special experience for him.
The head coach has won a championship and now surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. I think the success Denver are having on offence is mostly due to his guidance, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the combination with the QB helps shape him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy in your ear, to help you through difficult moments and boost confidence.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. Yet are they strong enough to go against a top squad at its best? Since that was not championship-level play by the Eagles last Sunday.
Right now, it's unlikely the Broncos are incredible. They're performing better than most, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. The key to do is maintain this path.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, which is the ground game, and this is precisely what they should do versus the New York Jets in London. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
The Jets have allowed 140 rushing yards each contest (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad without a win a game.
Ever since the NFL began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, which is surprising when you think that their new coach was previously defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
After the upcoming matchup, Denver have a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at their division, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could challenge at leading the division.
This hinges upon what version Kansas City shows up they face since the Broncos {beat|def
