How these Denver Broncos together with the flexible quarterback can stop that Kansas City Chiefs' rule.
Ex Buffalo Bills coach Phoebe Schecter is an NFL pundit who also plays for the UK's national squad.
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- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
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We're in the sixth week in the football calendar and following recent talk regarding two top teams being possible championship contenders, each surrendered their perfect starts.
Notable in those games were the number of penalties both committed. The Eagles committed them at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves having led by two touchdowns going into the fourth period versus the Denver Broncos, set to play overseas this weekend.
However it was positive to see that Denver's QB the rookie was able to have that deficit before direct three successful possessions on three possessions during the final period, securing the game by four points.
The Broncos have the defensive player of the year with CB Pat Surtain II. They are first in goal-line defense, whereas the Eagles lead the league in red zone offence, yet the Broncos won that battle.
They had the Eagles' number regarding simulated pressure. They did not necessarily sending more than four defenders but they might plug two linebackers in the interior before drop them out and send a slot defender from the outside.
Early on in the campaign, we said on a program how the Broncos might emerge as this season's dark horses. They finished the previous year well and did a good job in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
New TE their tight end has excelled big and new RB their rusher is a player the team trusts. He now ranks fifth in the NFL in ground gains (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.
This demonstrates that Denver are a team aiming to prioritize the run, because one can do a lot based on that approach. It slows opposing rushes and keeps you in favourable situations.
It's also benefited QB the young passer, who entered the NFL as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 touchdown passes – second only to a star QB for the rookie record (31 back in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess the arm strength to pass anywhere, however they lack in the same way as Nix. He boasts incredible arm talent, which is different, plus he is highly agile.
His assets are his movement, the capacity to throw while moving, as well as finding different arm angles to make the pass when he rolls out of the pocket, on rollouts. He is able to deliver that layered pass across the middle or over the corner.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he displays great composure in the pocket and is not really fazed by the blitz. He aims to avoid a sack whenever possible and can pass in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and is quick to decide.
If you constantly rush it consumes the clock and makes the defence to be on the field extended periods, and when you've got an athletic quarterback the defence has to cover the area downfield and horizontally. This proves draining.
Nix has bitten back with the coach during games at times and it seems Payton appreciates that fire, seeing him as a fierce rival. In my view it's exciting for him to have a young quarterback that is similar to play-dough. The coach can really build something up the way he desires to build it. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
The head coach owns a championship and has surpassed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed it all. I think the achievements the Broncos are experiencing on offence is mostly due to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the combination with Nix helps shape him what he is.
You wouldn't want a better guy guiding you, to help you during difficult moments and build self-belief.
I have faith in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they good enough to go against an elite team at its best? Since that was not a Super Bowl performance from Philadelphia in their last game.
Currently, it's unlikely the Broncos are elite. They're working better than most, which is a solid position to be in the AFC West. The key is to continue this path.
They're really good at embracing their forte, which is the ground game, and that's exactly what they should do against the New York Jets in London. It's going to be a Dobbins-focused game, in essence.
New York have allowed 140 yards on the ground per game (sixth worst), five rushing touchdowns this season (in the bottom ten), and they are the only team yet to win any game.
Ever since the NFL began tracking turnovers in 1933, this team are the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers through five games, which is surprising when you think that the head coach was previously defensive co-ordinator at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City are off to a poor start following a recent loss to Jacksonville.
Following this Sunday's game, the Broncos have a manageable slate up to their break (in week twelve) - the New York Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus Las Vegas Raiders prior to the Chiefs.
In the AFC West, the Chiefs hold a losing record while Denver are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers at 3-2 so they could make a run for the top of the division.
It depends on what version of the Chiefs they face since the Broncos {beat|def
