Ways the Broncos together with the malleable QB could end that Chiefs' reign.
Former Buffalo Bills assistant coach an analyst serves as a football expert who also plays for Great Britain's flag football team.
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Week six of the 2025 NFL season
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We're in the sixth week in the football calendar and following last week's talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as possible championship contenders, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable during those contests were the amount of penalties both committed. Philadelphia did so in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves after leading 17-3 entering the final quarter against Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
But it proved positive to observe that Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to overcome that deficit and then lead three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, securing the victory 21-17.
The Broncos boast the defensive player of the year in CB Pat Surtain II. They rank first in red zone defence, while Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, and the Broncos won that battle.
They executed effective strategies regarding disguised blitzes. They did not always rushing more than four defenders instead they might plug two LBs in the interior then drop them out and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
Early on in the campaign, it was noted on a program how the Broncos could be the current year's surprise contenders. They ended last season strongly and excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up big while recent running back JK Dobbins is a player the team trusts. He now ranks fifth league-wide for rushing yards (402) and tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
I love how head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows how the Broncos represent a team aiming to run first, since you can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces opposing rushes while maintains in favourable situations.
It's also helped QB Bo Nix, who came into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – just behind a star QB in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess powerful arms to pass all over, however they don't move in the same way as Nix. He has exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, plus he's highly agile.
His assets are his movement, the capacity to throw on the run, and finding varied release points to make the pass when he rolls outside protection, the bootlegs. He is able to throw precision throws across the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he displays a lot of poise under pressure and is not really fazed by extra rushers. He aims to avoid being tackled as much as possible and can pass in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains very decisive.
If you constantly run the ball it consumes time and forces the opponent to stay on the field for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defence must defend the field vertically side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back with the coach during games at times and I think Payton likes that attitude, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's fun for him to coach a young quarterback who's similar to moldable clay. He can truly develop him how he wants to build it. I believe it's a unique opportunity for him.
Payton owns a Super Bowl and now surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He's seen it all. In my opinion the success Denver are experiencing offensively is largely down to his leadership, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB helps make him into who he is.
There's no better a more qualified person in your ear, to help you through some of the tougher situations and build confidence.
I believe in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. But are they good enough to face an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're performing better than most, which is a good place to hold their division. The key is to continue this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their strength, which is the ground game, and this is exactly what they must do against the Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (10th worst), and they're the only team without a win any game.
Ever since the league started recording turnovers in 1933, the Jets are the inaugural squad to go without a single takeaway in five outings, which is surprising considering that the head coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach with another team.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, Denver face a manageable slate up to their break (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at the AFC West, Kansas City are 2-3 while Denver are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
It depends on which form of the Chiefs they meet since Denver {beat|def
