How these Denver Broncos together with their flexible QB can halt that Chiefs' reign.
Former Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter serves as an NFL pundit who also plays for the UK's flag football team.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Real-time updates features text commentary for the weekend matchups on various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, audio coverage is available on designated networks covering a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
We're in the sixth week of the football calendar and after last week's discussion about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests was the amount of penalties each conceded. The Eagles did so at crucial times meaning they kind of defeated themselves after leading 17-3 entering the fourth period versus Denver, set to play overseas this weekend.
However it was positive to observe how Denver's QB the rookie was able to have the shortfall and then direct three successful possessions in three attempts during the final period, to win the victory by four points.
Denver have the top defender with CB Pat Surtain II. They are first in goal-line defense, while Philadelphia are number one in scoring near the end zone, yet the Broncos prevailed in that battle.
They executed the Eagles' number in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily rushing extra defenders but they could position two linebackers in the interior before drop them out and send a nickel from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said on a program how the Broncos might emerge as this season's dark horses. They ended last season well then excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
New tight end their tight end has excelled significantly while new running back JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He now ranks 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (402) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive how head coach Sean Payton displays "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows that the Broncos represent a team that wants to run first, because you can achieve much off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes and maintains in favourable down and distances.
It's also benefited quarterback Bo Nix, who came the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick last year, throwing 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 pass all over, but they don't move the mobility that Nix has. He has incredible passing ability, a unique trait, plus he's so athletic.
His strengths include his movement, the capacity to pass while moving, as well as using varied release points to make throws as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver precision throws across the middle and over the corner.
As a rookie QB, at 25, he's got great poise in the pocket and isn't bothered by the blitz. He aims to evade a sack as much as possible and is able pass in tight spots. He has sharp intelligence and remains very decisive.
If you constantly rush it eats up time and forces the defence to be on the field extended periods, and when you have a mobile QB the defence has to defend the field vertically and horizontally. This proves exhausting.
Nix has bitten back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think the coach likes that fire, that he's a fierce rival. In my view it's fun for the coach to have a young quarterback that is kind of like play-dough. The coach can really build something up how he desires to shape him. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
Payton has won a Super Bowl and has surpassed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. In my opinion the success the Broncos are experiencing on offence is mostly due to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him into who he is.
There's no better a better guy guiding you, to help you during some of the tougher situations and boost confidence.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to face a top squad at full strength? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles in their last game.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're performing above average, which is a solid position to hold the AFC West. The key is is maintain this path.
They're really good at embracing their strength, that is running the ball, and that's precisely what they should do against the Jets in London. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have allowed 140 yards on the ground per game (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they are the only team yet to win any game.
Ever since the league began tracking takeaways in 1933, the Jets are also the first team to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is kind of shocking when you think that their new coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says the Chiefs are off to a poor start following Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
Following this Sunday's game, Denver face a smooth-ish schedule until their break (in week 12) - the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, the Texans and Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at their division, Kansas City hold a losing record while Denver are even with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 so they could make a run for the top of the West.
It depends on what version Kansas City shows up they face since Denver {beat|def
