How these Broncos together with the 'play-dough' quarterback could halt that Kansas City Chiefs' reign.
Ex NFL team coach Phoebe Schecter is a football expert and plays for Great Britain's flag football team.
- Published
- 6 Comments
Week six of the 2025 NFL season
Real-time updates includes live text of Sunday's games on various channels, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets in London (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary is available on select stations covering another key matchup (from 21:00 BST).
It's week six of the NFL season , after last week's talk about the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as possible championship contenders, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Striking during those contests were the number of penalties each committed. The Eagles did so at crucial times meaning they kind of defeated themselves after leading 17-3 going into the fourth period versus the Denver Broncos, set to play overseas this Sunday.
But it proved good to see that Denver quarterback the rookie managed to overcome that deficit before lead three scoring drives on three possessions in the fourth quarter, securing the game by four points.
Denver boast the defensive player of the year with CB their star corner. They are number one in red zone defence, whereas Philadelphia lead the league in scoring near the end zone, yet the Broncos won that battle.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They weren't always sending more than four pass rushers but they might position two linebackers in the 'A' gap then drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
Early on of the season, we said during a show that Denver might emerge as this season's dark horses. They ended the previous year well and excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this season's underdog story?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up significantly while new RB their rusher is a guy they believe in. He's currently fifth league-wide for rushing yards (402) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive that head coach the Broncos' leader has "RUSH!" prominently of his playcall sheet.
That shows how Denver represent a squad aiming to run first, because you can achieve much based on that approach. It slows opposing rushes while maintains in favourable down and distances.
This has benefited QB Bo Nix, who came into the league as the 12th overall draft pick in the prior draft, passing for 29 TDs – second only to Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess the arm strength to throw all over, however they don't move the mobility as Nix. He has exceptional passing ability, a unique trait, and he's so athletic.
His strengths include his mobility, being able to throw on the run, and finding varied release points to deliver the pass as he moves out of the pocket, on rollouts. He is able to throw precision throws across the middle or over the corner.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he's got a lot of composure in the pocket and isn't bothered by extra rushers. He tries to evade a sack as much as possible and is able pass in tight spots. He possesses sharp intelligence and is quick to decide.
When you consistently rush it eats up time and forces the defence to be on the field for longer, and if you've got an athletic quarterback the defense has to cover the area vertically side to side. This proves exhausting.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton during games at times and it seems Payton likes that fire, that he's such a competitor. In my view it's fun for him to have a rookie QB who's kind of like play-dough. The coach can really build something up the way he wants to build it. I think it's a special experience for the coach.
Payton owns a Super Bowl and has surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen everything. In my opinion the success Denver are having offensively is mostly down to his leadership, his schemes, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB aids make him what he is.
There's no better a better guy in your ear, to help you through difficult moments and build confidence.
I have faith in Denver's defence, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they good enough to go against a top squad at full strength? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles last Sunday.
Currently, I don't think the Broncos are incredible. They're working above average, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. All they need is is maintain this trajectory.
They excel at embracing their strength, which is running the ball, and that's precisely what they should do versus the New York Jets at Tottenham. It's going to be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards per game (sixth worst), five ground scores so far (10th worst), and they are the sole squad without a win any game.
Ever since the NFL began tracking takeaways decades ago, this team are also the first team to go without any turnovers through five games, this is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach was previously defensive co-ordinator with another team.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City are off to a poor start after Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.
Following the upcoming matchup, Denver have a smooth-ish schedule until their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus the Raiders prior to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Looking at the AFC West, Kansas City are 2-3 while Denver are even with the Chargers at 3-2 meaning they could challenge for the top of the division.
It depends on what version Kansas City shows up they face since Denver {beat|def
