How the Denver Broncos together with their malleable quarterback could stop the Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Ex Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit and represents the UK's flag football team.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Real-time updates features text commentary of the weekend matchups on multiple platforms, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage is available through designated networks covering a separate game (beginning at 9 PM BST).
It's week six of the football calendar and following last week's talk regarding two top teams as a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their perfect starts.
Notable in those games was the amount of infractions both conceded. Philadelphia did so at crucial times so they essentially defeated themselves having led by two touchdowns entering the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, who play in London this Sunday.
But it was positive to see how Denver's QB the rookie was able to have that deficit and then direct three successful possessions on three possessions in the fourth quarter, securing the victory by four points.
Denver boast the top defender in CB Pat Surtain II. They are number one in red zone defence, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, and Denver prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies in terms of simulated pressure. They did not always sending more than four pass rushers but they could plug two LBs in the 'A' gap then drop them out and send a slot defender from the outside.
At the start in the campaign, we said on a program how the Broncos might emerge as the current year's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year well and excelled in continuing that momentum.
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New tight end Evan Engram has excelled big while recent RB their rusher is a player they believe in. He now ranks fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) and tied for fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
It's impressive how head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows that the Broncos are a squad aiming to run first, because you can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes while keeps you in favourable down and distances.
It's also helped QB the young passer, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – just behind a star QB in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have powerful arms to throw all over, however they don't move the mobility that Nix has. He boasts exceptional passing ability, which is different, plus he is highly agile.
His assets are his movement, being able to pass while moving, as well as using different arm angles to deliver throws as he moves outside protection, the bootlegs. He can deliver precision throws over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got great composure under pressure and is not really fazed by the blitz. He aims to evade a sack whenever possible and can pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains very decisive.
When you consistently run the ball it eats up time and forces the opponent to stay on the field extended periods, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defense has to defend the area downfield side to side. It can be draining.
Nix has bitten back at Payton on the sideline sometimes and it seems the coach appreciates that attitude, seeing him as such a competitor. In my view it's fun for the coach to coach a young quarterback who's kind of like play-dough. The coach can truly build something up how he wants to shape him. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a Super Bowl and has surpassed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed everything. In my opinion the success the Broncos are having on offence is mostly down to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix helps make him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy in your ear, to assist you through some of the tougher situations and boost confidence.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. But is the team strong enough to face a top squad at its best? Because that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, I don't think the Broncos are elite. They're performing better than most, which is a solid position to hold their division. The key is to continue this path.
They're really good at embracing their strength, which is the ground game, and this is precisely what they must do against the New York Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five ground scores this season (10th worst), and they're the only team yet to win any game.
Since the NFL began tracking turnovers decades ago, the Jets are the first team to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising considering that the head coach was previously defensive co-ordinator with another team.
The Chiefs' QB stated Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and Las Vegas Raiders before the Chiefs.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could make a run at leading the West.
It depends upon what version of the Chiefs they face because the Broncos {beat|def
