Ways the Denver Broncos and their malleable quarterback could halt that Kansas City Chiefs' dominance.

NFL pundit and flag football player

Ex Buffalo Bills coach an analyst serves as a football expert who also represents the UK's flag football team.

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NFL 2025 season: Week six

Real-time updates features live text of the weekend matchups on various channels, beginning with Denver Broncos v New York Jets at Tottenham (from 14:00 BST). Also, radio commentary is available on select stations covering another key matchup (beginning at 9 PM BST).

It's week six in the NFL season , after last week's talk regarding two top teams as possible championship contenders, each lost their unbeaten records.

Striking in those games were the number of penalties both conceded. The Eagles committed them in key moments meaning they essentially defeated themselves after leading 17-3 entering the fourth period against Denver, who play overseas this weekend.

But it proved positive to see how Denver's QB Bo Nix managed to have that deficit before direct three scoring drives on three possessions during the final period, securing the victory by four points.

The Broncos have the top defender in CB their star corner. They rank first in goal-line defense, while the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, and Denver prevailed in that contest.

They had the Eagles' number regarding disguised blitzes. They weren't always sending extra pass rushers but they could plug two LBs in the 'A' gap before withdrawing them and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.

Early on in the campaign, we said on a program that Denver could be the current year's dark horses. They ended last season well and excelled in continuing that momentum.

Are the Denver Broncos this year's dark horses?

New tight end Evan Engram has stepped up significantly while recent running back JK Dobbins is a player they believe in. He now ranks 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (402) as well as tied-fourth in rushing scores (4).

It's impressive how the coach Sean Payton displays "RUSH!" prominently on his call sheet.

That shows how Denver represent a team that wants to run first, because you can achieve much off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush while maintains in positive down and distances.

This has benefited QB Bo Nix, who came the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick last year, throwing 29 touchdown passes – just behind Justin Herbert in rookie records (31 in 2020).

Other elite QBs have the arm strength to throw all over, however they lack the mobility as Nix. He boasts incredible passing ability, a unique trait, plus he's highly agile.

His strengths are his movement, being able to pass on the run, as well as finding different arm angles to make the pass as he moves out of the pocket, the bootlegs. He can deliver precision throws across the middle and over the corner.

As a rookie QB, at 25, he's got a lot of composure under pressure and is not bothered by extra rushers. He aims to avoid being tackled as much as possible and is able pass under pressure. He possesses a high football IQ and is quick to decide.

When you constantly rush it eats up time and makes the opponent to be in play for longer, and when you have an athletic quarterback the defence has to defend the field downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.

The quarterback has pushed back at Payton during games sometimes and it seems Payton appreciates that attitude, seeing him as a fierce rival. I think it's fun for the coach to have a young quarterback that is similar to moldable clay. The coach can truly build something up the way he wants to shape him. I think it's a unique opportunity for the coach.

Payton has won a championship and has surpassed Bill Parcells for career NFL wins (173 - tied 14th overall). He's seen it all. In my opinion the achievements Denver are experiencing offensively is largely due to his leadership, his play-calling, his game sense – and the combination with the QB aids make him what he is.

You wouldn't want a more qualified person guiding you, to assist you through some of the tougher situations and build confidence.

I have faith in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they good enough to face an elite team at full strength? Because that wasn't a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia last Sunday.

Right now, it's unlikely Denver are incredible. They're working better than most, that's a good place to hold their division. The key is is maintain this trajectory.

They're really good at leaning into their forte, which is running the ball, and that's precisely what they should do against the Jets in London. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.

The Jets have allowed 140 yards on the ground each contest (among the worst), five ground scores so far (10th worst), and they're the sole squad without a win any game.

Since the league began tracking takeaways decades ago, the Jets are also the inaugural squad to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is kind of shocking when you think that the head coach Aaron Glenn defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.

Patrick Mahomes stated Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' following Monday's defeat by the Jaguars.

Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos have a smooth-ish schedule up to their break (in week 12) - the Giants, Dallas Cowboys, Houston Texans and the Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.

Looking at the AFC West, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 meaning they could challenge for the top of the West.

This hinges on which form of the Chiefs they meet because Denver {beat|def

Tina Small
Tina Small

A geospatial analyst and cartography enthusiast with over a decade of experience in digital mapping and GIS applications.