How these Broncos and the malleable QB could end the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Ex Buffalo Bills coach an analyst is a football expert who also represents Great Britain's flag football team.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
Week six of the 2025 NFL season
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It's week six of the NFL season and after last week's discussion regarding two top teams being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their perfect starts.
Notable in those games were the number of penalties each committed. Philadelphia did so at crucial times meaning they kind of defeated themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the final quarter versus Denver, who play overseas this weekend.
But it proved good to observe that Denver's QB the rookie managed to have the shortfall before lead three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, securing the victory by four points.
The Broncos have the defensive player of the year in cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are number one in goal-line defense, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, yet the Broncos won that contest.
They had the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They did not necessarily rushing more than four pass rushers but they might position two LBs in the 'A' gap before withdrawing them and send a slot defender from the outside.
Early on in the campaign, it was noted during a show that the Broncos could be the current year's surprise contenders. They ended last season well then did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
New tight end their tight end has excelled big and new running back their rusher is a player they believe in. He now ranks fifth league-wide in ground gains (over 400) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (four).
It's impressive how the coach Sean Payton displays "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows that Denver are a squad that wants to run first, because you can do a lot off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush and maintains in favourable down and distances.
It's also helped QB Bo Nix, who came the NFL as a first-round selection last year, passing for 29 TDs – second only to a star QB for the rookie record (31 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, a unique trait, and he is so athletic.
His strengths are his mobility, being able to pass on the run, and finding varied release points to deliver throws when he rolls out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can throw that layered pass over the middle or past defenders.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he's got a lot of composure in the pocket and isn't bothered by extra rushers. He tries to avoid being tackled whenever possible and can throw under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
When you consistently rush it eats up the clock and forces the opponent to stay in play for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defence has to cover the area downfield side to side. This proves exhausting.
Nix has pushed back with the coach on the sideline at times and I think Payton likes that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's fun for the coach to coach a young quarterback that is similar to moldable clay. He can really develop him how he desires to build it. I think it's a unique opportunity for him.
The head coach owns a championship and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. I think the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly due to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix helps make him what he is.
You wouldn't want 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 are they strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, I don't think Denver are elite. They're performing above average, that's a solid position to hold the AFC West. All they need is to continue this trajectory.
They excel at embracing their forte, which is running the ball, and this is exactly what they should do against the Jets in London. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
The Jets have allowed 140 rushing yards each contest (among the worst), five ground scores this season (10th worst), and they're the sole squad yet to win any game.
Ever since the league began tracking turnovers in 1933, the Jets are the inaugural squad to be without a single takeaway through five games, this is surprising when you think that their new coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes stated Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after a recent loss by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, Denver face a manageable slate until their break (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, Kansas City are 2-3 and the Broncos are even with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
It depends upon what version Kansas City shows up they face since the Broncos {beat|def
