How these Denver Broncos and their 'play-dough' quarterback can end the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Former NFL team assistant coach an analyst serves as an NFL pundit and represents Great Britain's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage includes text commentary of the weekend matchups via various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Additionally, radio commentary is available through select stations for another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).
It's week six of the football calendar , following recent talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being possible championship contenders, they both lost their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests was the amount of penalties both conceded. Philadelphia committed them in key moments so they kind of defeated themselves having led 17-3 going into the final quarter against the Denver Broncos, who play in London this Sunday.
However it was good to observe that Denver's QB the rookie managed to overcome that deficit and then lead three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the game 21-17.
Denver have the top defender in CB their star corner. They rank number one in goal-line defense, whereas Philadelphia are number one in scoring near the end zone, yet the Broncos won that contest.
They executed the Eagles' number in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily sending more than four pass rushers instead they could plug two linebackers in the interior 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 might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They ended last season well and excelled of building upon that.
Are the Denver Broncos this season's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has excelled significantly while new RB their rusher is a player they believe in. He now ranks 5th league-wide for rushing yards (402) as well as tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
I love how head coach Sean Payton displays "RUN IT!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates that Denver are a squad that wants to run first, since you can do a lot off the back of that. It slows opposing rushes and keeps you in favourable down and distances.
This has helped QB the young passer, who entered into the league as a first-round selection last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to pass all over, however they lack the mobility that Nix has. He boasts exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, and he's highly agile.
His assets include his movement, the capacity to throw while moving, and using different arm angles to deliver the pass when he rolls outside protection, the bootlegs. He can throw that layered pass across the middle or over the corner.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he's got a lot of composure in the pocket and isn't really fazed by the blitz. He aims to evade a sack whenever possible and can throw in tight spots. He has sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it eats up the clock and forces the defence to be in play for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defense has to defend the field vertically and horizontally. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has bitten back at Payton during games at times and I think the coach appreciates that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's fun for him to coach a young quarterback who's kind of like moldable clay. He can really develop him the way he desires to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton owns a championship and has surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. I think the success the Broncos are experiencing on offence is largely down to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix aids make him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy guiding you, to help you during difficult moments and build confidence.
I believe in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But is the team good enough to face a top squad at its best? Because that was not a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're working above average, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. All they need to do to continue this path.
They excel at embracing their strength, that is the ground game, and this is exactly what they should do versus the Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have allowed 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five ground scores this season (in the bottom ten), and they are the sole squad yet to win any game.
Since the NFL began tracking turnovers in 1933, the Jets are the first team to be without any turnovers through five games, which is kind of shocking considering that their new coach was previously a defensive coach with another team.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after a recent loss by the Jaguars.
Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule up to their bye (in week twelve) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, the Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at their division, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Chargers on 3-2 so they could make a run for the top of the West.
This hinges on what version Kansas City shows up they face since Denver {beat|def