Ways the Denver Broncos and their 'play-dough' quarterback can stop the Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Former NFL team assistant coach an analyst is an NFL pundit who also represents Great Britain's national squad.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
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It's week six in the football calendar and after last week's talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, they both surrendered their unbeaten records.
Notable in those games was the number of infractions both conceded. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times so they kind of beat themselves after leading 17-3 going into the final quarter versus Denver, set to play overseas this weekend.
However it was good to see how Denver's QB Bo Nix managed to overcome the shortfall before direct three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, securing the game 21-17.
Denver have the top defender with CB their star corner. They rank first in goal-line defense, while the Eagles are number one in scoring near the end zone, yet Denver prevailed in that battle.
They had effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't necessarily rushing extra defenders but they might position two linebackers in the interior then drop them out and send a nickel from the outside.
Early on in the campaign, it was noted during a show how the Broncos could be this season's surprise contenders. They ended the previous year well then excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has stepped up big and new RB JK Dobbins is a guy they believe in. He's currently fifth league-wide in ground gains (over 400) as well as tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
It's impressive that the coach the Broncos' leader has "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
This demonstrates how Denver are a squad aiming to prioritize the run, because you can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes while keeps you in favourable down and distances.
This has helped quarterback the young passer, who came into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert have the arm strength to throw all over, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He boasts exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, plus he's highly agile.
His strengths include his movement, the capacity to pass while moving, and finding different arm angles to deliver the pass as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver precision throws across the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays great composure under pressure and is not bothered by extra rushers. He tries to avoid being tackled as much as possible and can pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and is very decisive.
When you constantly run the ball it consumes time and forces the opponent to be in play for longer, and if you've got a mobile QB the defense must cover the area downfield and horizontally. It can be draining.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton on the sideline at times and it seems the coach likes that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's fun for him to coach a rookie QB that is similar to play-dough. He can really develop him the way he desires to build it. I think it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a championship and now passed a legend for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed everything. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly down to his guidance, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the combination with the QB helps make him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy in your ear, to help you during difficult moments and build confidence.
I have faith in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. But are they strong enough to face an elite team at full strength? Since 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, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. The key is to continue this path.
They're really good at embracing their forte, that is running the ball, and this is exactly what they must do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
New York have allowed 140 yards on the ground per game (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win any game.
Since the league began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising when you think that the head coach was previously defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos have a manageable slate until their bye (in week twelve) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, the Texans and the Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could make a run for the top of the West.
It depends on what version of the Chiefs they meet because the Broncos {beat|def
