How these Broncos and the malleable quarterback could stop that Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Former NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter is a football expert who also plays for the UK's flag football team.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
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It's week six in the NFL season and after recent discussion about two top teams as possible championship contenders, each lost their unbeaten records.
Notable during those contests was the amount of infractions both committed. Philadelphia committed them at crucial times so they kind of beat themselves after leading 17-3 going into the final quarter versus Denver, who play in London this Sunday.
But it proved positive to observe how Denver's QB the rookie managed to have the shortfall and then direct three successful possessions in three attempts in the fourth quarter, to win the game by four points.
The Broncos boast the top defender with cornerback Pat Surtain II. They rank number one in goal-line defense, while the Eagles are number one in red zone offence, yet the Broncos prevailed in that contest.
They had the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They did not always rushing extra defenders but they might position two LBs in the interior then drop them out and send a nickel from the outside.
At the start in the campaign, we said during a show that Denver might emerge as this season's surprise contenders. They finished last season well and did a good job of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE their tight end has excelled significantly while recent RB their rusher is a player they believe in. He now ranks fifth in the NFL in ground gains (402) as well as tied for fourth for rushing touchdowns (four).
It's impressive how head coach Sean Payton has "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows how the Broncos represent a squad aiming to run first, since one can do a lot based on that approach. It reduces down the pass rush while maintains in positive down and distances.
It's also benefited quarterback the young passer, who entered the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to pass anywhere, but they lack the mobility that Nix has. He has incredible arm talent, which is different, plus he's highly agile.
His strengths include his mobility, the capacity to pass while moving, and using different arm angles to deliver throws when he rolls out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays a lot of composure in the pocket and is not really fazed by the blitz. He aims to avoid being tackled whenever possible and can throw under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
If you constantly run the ball it consumes the clock and forces the defence to be on the field extended periods, and when you've got a mobile QB the defence must defend the area downfield and horizontally. This proves exhausting.
Nix has bitten back with the coach during games at times and it seems the coach likes that attitude, seeing him as such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for him to have a young quarterback who's similar to play-dough. He can really build something up how he desires to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for him.
The head coach owns a championship and now surpassed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He's seen it all. In my opinion the success Denver are having on offence is mostly down to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with the QB helps make him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to assist you during difficult moments and build self-belief.
I have faith in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But is the team strong enough to go against an elite team at its best? Since that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles last Sunday.
Right now, it's unlikely the Broncos are incredible. They're performing better than most, that's a good place to be in their division. All they need to do to continue this trajectory.
They excel at leaning into their forte, that is the ground game, and that's exactly what they must do against the Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five ground scores so far (10th worst), and they are the only team without a win a game.
Since the NFL began tracking takeaways in 1933, the Jets are the first team to be without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' after a recent loss to Jacksonville.
Following the upcoming matchup, Denver face a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week twelve) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and the Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
In their division, Kansas City are 2-3 while Denver are tied with the Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge for the top of the division.
This hinges upon which form of the Chiefs they face because Denver {beat|def
