Ways the Denver Broncos and their 'play-dough' quarterback could end the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Former Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter serves as an NFL pundit and plays for Great Britain's national squad.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Live coverage features text commentary of Sunday's games via multiple platforms, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, radio commentary is available on designated networks covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week in the NFL season and following recent talk about two top teams as possible championship contenders, they both lost their perfect starts.
Notable in those games were the number of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times meaning they kind of beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns entering the fourth period against Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
However it proved good to observe how Denver quarterback Bo Nix managed to overcome that deficit and then direct three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, to win the game by four points.
The Broncos boast the top defender in cornerback Pat Surtain II. They rank first in goal-line defense, while Philadelphia are number one in red zone offence, yet the Broncos prevailed in that contest.
They had the Eagles' number in terms of simulated pressure. They weren't always sending extra pass rushers instead they could position two LBs in the 'A' gap then drop them out and dispatch a nickel from the outside.
Early on in the campaign, we said on a program that Denver might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They finished the previous year well and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Are the Denver Broncos this year's underdog story?
New TE their tight end has stepped up big while new RB their rusher is a guy they believe in. He's currently 5th in the NFL in ground gains (over 400) and tied for fourth in rushing scores (four).
I love that the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUSH!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates that Denver represent a squad aiming to run first, since you can achieve much off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush and keeps you in favourable situations.
It's also benefited QB the young passer, who came the NFL as a first-round selection last year, passing for 29 TDs – second only to Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to throw anywhere, but they don't move the mobility as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, a unique trait, and he is highly agile.
His assets are his mobility, the capacity to throw on the run, and using varied release points to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He is able to throw precision throws over the middle or past defenders.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays a lot of composure under pressure and isn't really fazed by the blitz. He aims to evade a sack as much as possible and can pass in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and is quick to decide.
If you consistently run the ball it eats up the clock and makes the defence to be in play for longer, and when you have a mobile QB the defense has to cover the area downfield side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton on the sideline at times and it seems Payton likes that attitude, seeing him as a fierce rival. I think it's exciting for him to coach a rookie QB that is similar to moldable clay. The coach can really build something up the way he desires to shape him. I think it's a special experience for him.
The head coach owns a Super Bowl and now surpassed a legend for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed it all. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly down to his leadership, his play-calling, his situational awareness – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him what he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to help you during difficult moments and build confidence.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to go against a top squad at its best? Because that was not championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, which is a solid position to hold the AFC West. All they need is is maintain this path.
They're really good at leaning into their forte, which is running the ball, and this is precisely what they should do versus the Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (sixth worst), five ground scores this season (10th worst), and they're the sole squad without a win a game.
Since the NFL began tracking turnovers decades ago, this team are the inaugural squad to be without a single takeaway through five games, this is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated the Chiefs are off to a poor start after a recent loss to Jacksonville.
Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos have a smooth-ish schedule until their break (in week 12) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could make a run at leading the division.
This hinges on what version of the Chiefs they meet since the Broncos {beat|def
