How these Denver Broncos and the malleable quarterback can end the Chiefs' dominance.
Former Buffalo Bills coach an analyst is a football expert and represents Great Britain'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 in London (from 14:00 BST). Also, audio coverage is available on select stations for another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six in the NFL season and following last week's talk regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles being possible championship contenders, each lost their perfect starts.
Notable during those contests was the amount of penalties each conceded. Philadelphia did so in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the fourth period against Denver, set to play overseas this Sunday.
But it proved good to observe how Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to have the shortfall and then direct three scoring drives in three attempts during the final period, to win the game 21-17.
The Broncos have the defensive player of the year with cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are number one in red zone defence, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, yet Denver prevailed in that contest.
They had the Eagles' number in terms of simulated pressure. They did not necessarily sending extra defenders but they could position two LBs in the interior then drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said on a program that the Broncos might emerge as this season's dark horses. They ended last season strongly then did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Are the Denver Broncos this season's underdog story?
New tight end their tight end has excelled significantly while recent running back their rusher is a guy they believe in. He now ranks fifth in the NFL for rushing yards (402) and tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
I love how head coach Sean Payton displays "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows that Denver are a squad aiming to run first, since one can achieve much based on that approach. It reduces down the pass rush while keeps you in favourable down and distances.
This has benefited quarterback the young passer, who came into the league as a first-round selection 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 throw all over, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He has incredible passing ability, a unique trait, plus he's so athletic.
His strengths are his movement, being able to pass while moving, as well as using different arm angles to make the pass when he rolls outside protection, on rollouts. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle or over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he displays a lot of poise under pressure and is not bothered by the blitz. He tries to avoid being tackled whenever possible and is able pass under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
When you consistently rush it consumes the clock and forces the defence to be on the field for longer, and when you've got an athletic quarterback the defense must defend the area downfield and horizontally. It can be exhausting.
The quarterback has bitten back with the coach on the sideline at times and I think the coach appreciates that fire, seeing him as such a competitor. I think it's fun for him to have a young quarterback who's similar to play-dough. He can truly develop him the way he wants to shape him. I think it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach has won a Super Bowl and has passed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He's seen it all. In my opinion the achievements Denver are having offensively is mostly down to his guidance, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the combination with the QB helps shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to assist you through difficult moments and boost self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. Yet is the team good enough to go against a top squad at its best? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, I don't think Denver are incredible. They're performing above average, which is a good place to be in the AFC West. All they need to do is maintain this trajectory.
They're really good at leaning into their forte, which is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do versus the Jets at Tottenham. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
The Jets have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (in the bottom ten), and they're the sole squad yet to win a game.
Since the NFL started recording turnovers in 1933, the Jets are also the first team to go without any turnovers through five games, this is kind of shocking when you think that their new coach was previously defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated 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 until their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus the Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could make a run for the top of the West.
It depends upon which form of the Chiefs they meet because Denver {beat|def
