How the Denver Broncos and their flexible QB could end that Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.
Former NFL team assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as a football expert who also plays for the UK's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage features live text of Sunday's games via multiple platforms, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (kicking off at 2 PM BST). Also, radio commentary can be heard through select stations for a separate game (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six in the football calendar , following last week's discussion regarding two top teams being a potential Super Bowl match-up, each lost their unbeaten records.
Striking during those contests was the number of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia did so in key moments so they kind of defeated themselves after leading 17-3 entering the final quarter versus the Denver Broncos, set to play in London this weekend.
However it was positive to observe how Denver quarterback the rookie managed to overcome that deficit before lead three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, to win the victory by four points.
Denver boast the defensive player of the year with CB Pat Surtain II. They rank first in red zone defence, whereas the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, yet the Broncos won that contest.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't always rushing extra pass rushers but they might position two LBs in the interior before withdrawing them and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
Early on of the season, we said during a show how the Broncos might emerge as the current year's dark horses. They ended last season well and excelled of building upon that.
Are the Denver Broncos this year's dark horses?
Recently acquired TE Evan Engram has excelled big and recent RB JK Dobbins is a guy they believe in. He now ranks 5th league-wide for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied for fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
I love that the coach Sean Payton displays "RUN IT!" at the top on his call sheet.
That shows that Denver are a squad that wants to run first, since one can do a lot off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush and maintains in favourable down and distances.
It's also helped QB the young passer, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 TDs – second only to a star QB for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Josh Allen and Herbert possess the arm strength to throw anywhere, but they lack in the same way that Nix has. He boasts exceptional arm talent, which is different, plus he's so athletic.
His strengths include his movement, the capacity to pass while moving, and finding different arm angles to deliver the pass as he moves outside protection, the bootlegs. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle or past defenders.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he's got great poise under pressure and isn't really fazed by extra rushers. He tries to evade a sack whenever possible and is able throw in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you consistently rush it consumes time and makes the defence to stay in play extended periods, and when you've got a mobile QB the defense has to defend the field vertically and horizontally. This proves exhausting.
Nix has pushed back at Payton on the sideline at times and I think Payton appreciates that attitude, that he's a fierce rival. I think it's exciting for the coach to have a rookie QB who's similar to play-dough. He can truly develop him the way he desires to shape him. I believe it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton owns a Super Bowl and now surpassed a legend for career NFL wins (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed everything. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are having offensively is mostly due to his guidance, his schemes, his game sense – and the combination with Nix aids shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person guiding you, to help you through some of the tougher situations and boost self-belief.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet is the team good enough to face an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Right now, I don't think Denver are elite. They're working above average, which is a solid position to hold the AFC West. The key to do to continue this trajectory.
They excel at embracing their forte, that is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do against the Jets in London. It will likely be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (10th worst), and they are the only team yet to win any game.
Since the league started recording takeaways in 1933, the Jets are the inaugural squad to be without a single takeaway through five games, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says the Chiefs have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
After the upcoming matchup, the Broncos face a smooth-ish schedule up to their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 while Denver are even with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could challenge for the top of the division.
This hinges on which form Kansas City shows up they face since Denver {beat|def