How the Denver Broncos and the 'play-dough' quarterback can halt the Kansas City Chiefs' rule.
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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NFL 2025 season: Week six
Live coverage includes live text for Sunday's games via various channels, starting with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, audio coverage can be heard through designated networks for another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).
It's week six of the football calendar , following last week's discussion about two top teams being possible championship contenders, they both lost their unbeaten records.
Striking in those games were the amount of infractions each committed. The Eagles committed them in key moments so they essentially beat themselves having led 17-3 going into the fourth period against Denver, who play overseas this Sunday.
But it proved positive to observe how Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to overcome that deficit and then lead three scoring drives in three attempts during the final period, securing the victory by four points.
Denver have the top defender in cornerback their star corner. They rank number one in red zone defence, while Philadelphia lead the league in red zone offence, yet the Broncos won that battle.
They had effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't necessarily sending extra pass rushers but they might plug two LBs in the 'A' gap then drop them out and dispatch a nickel off the edge.
Early on in the campaign, it was noted on a program that the Broncos might emerge as this season's surprise contenders. They finished last season well and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this year's underdog story?
Recently acquired TE Evan Engram has excelled significantly while new running back their rusher is a player the team trusts. He now ranks 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) and tied-fourth for rushing touchdowns (4).
It's impressive that head coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
That shows how Denver represent a team aiming to run first, since one can do a lot off the back of that. It reduces down the pass rush while maintains in favourable down and distances.
This has helped quarterback Bo Nix, who entered into the league as a first-round selection in the prior draft, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to throw all over, however they don't move the mobility as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, which is different, and he's so athletic.
His strengths are his movement, the capacity to pass on the run, as well as using different arm angles to make the pass when he rolls out of the pocket, on rollouts. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle or over the corner.
For a young quarterback, at 25, he displays a lot of poise in the pocket and isn't really fazed by extra rushers. He aims to avoid a sack whenever possible and is able pass under pressure. He possesses sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
When you consistently run the ball it eats up the clock and makes the opponent to be in play extended periods, and if you have a mobile QB the defense has to defend the area downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
Nix has pushed back with the coach on the sideline at times and I think the coach appreciates that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's fun for the coach to have a rookie QB who's kind of like play-dough. He can truly develop him how he wants to shape him. I think it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton has won a Super Bowl and now surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He's seen it all. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly due to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with Nix aids shape him into who he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to help you during difficult moments and boost self-belief.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they good enough to face an elite team at full strength? Since that wasn't championship-level play from Philadelphia last Sunday.
Right now, I don't think Denver are elite. They're working better than most, which is a good place to be in the AFC West. All they need is is maintain this path.
They excel at leaning into their forte, which 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 allowed 140 rushing yards per game (among the worst), five ground scores this season (in the bottom ten), and they're the only team without a win a game.
Since the league started recording turnovers decades ago, this team are the inaugural squad to go without a single takeaway through five games, which is surprising when you think that their new coach was previously defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB stated Kansas City are off to a poor start after a recent loss by the Jaguars.
After this Sunday's game, Denver have a manageable slate up to their bye (in week 12) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans and Las Vegas Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 while Denver are even with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
This hinges upon what version Kansas City shows up they meet since the Broncos {beat|def
