Ways these Denver Broncos and their flexible quarterback can halt the Kansas City Chiefs' rule.
Ex NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit and plays for 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 NFL season , after recent discussion regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being possible championship contenders, each surrendered their unbeaten records.
Notable during those contests was the amount of penalties both conceded. Philadelphia did so in key moments so they essentially defeated themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, who play in London this weekend.
But it was good to observe that Denver's QB the rookie managed to have that deficit before lead three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game 21-17.
The Broncos 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 the Broncos won that contest.
They had effective strategies in terms of simulated pressure. They did not always rushing more than four pass rushers but they could 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 on a program that the Broncos might emerge as the current year's dark horses. They finished last season strongly then did a good job of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has excelled big while new running back JK Dobbins is a player the team trusts. He's currently 5th in the NFL in ground gains (402) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (four).
It's impressive that the coach Sean Payton has "RUSH!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates that Denver are a squad aiming to run first, since you can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces down the pass rush and keeps you in positive situations.
It's also benefited QB Bo Nix, who came the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, passing for 29 TDs – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to pass anywhere, but they lack in the same way as Nix. He boasts incredible arm talent, which is different, and he's so athletic.
His assets include his movement, the capacity to throw on the run, as well as using different arm angles to make the pass as he moves outside protection, on rollouts. He can throw that layered pass across the middle and past defenders.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got a lot of poise under pressure and isn't bothered by the blitz. He tries to avoid a sack whenever possible and can throw in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and remains quick to decide.
When you consistently run the ball it eats up time and makes the opponent to stay in play extended periods, and if you have an athletic quarterback the defense must defend the field vertically side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has bitten back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think Payton likes that fire, that he's a fierce rival. I think it's exciting for the coach to have a rookie QB that is kind of like play-dough. The coach can really build something up the way he desires to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for him.
The head coach owns a championship and now passed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. In my opinion the success Denver are experiencing offensively is mostly due to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with Nix helps make him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person in your ear, to assist you during difficult moments and boost confidence.
I believe in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. But is the team good enough to go against an elite team at its best? Because that was not a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia last Sunday.
Right now, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, that's a solid position to be in the AFC West. The key to do is maintain this trajectory.
They excel at leaning into their strength, which is running the ball, and that's precisely what they must do against the New York Jets in London. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five ground scores so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad without a win any game.
Ever since the league began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are also the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that their new coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs are off to a poor start following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a manageable slate until their break (in week twelve) - the Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could challenge for the top of the division.
This hinges on what version of the Chiefs they face because the Broncos {beat|def
