Ways these Broncos together with the malleable quarterback could stop that Chiefs' dominance.
Ex NFL team assistant coach an analyst serves as a football expert and represents the UK's national squad.
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NFL 2025 season: Week six
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We're in the sixth week of the NFL season and after last week's discussion regarding two top teams as possible championship contenders, they both lost their perfect starts.
Notable in those games was the amount of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia committed them in key moments meaning they essentially beat themselves having led 17-3 entering the fourth period versus the Denver Broncos, who play in London this weekend.
However it proved good to see that Denver quarterback Bo Nix managed to overcome that deficit and then lead three scoring drives in three attempts during the final period, securing the victory by four points.
The Broncos have the defensive player of the year with CB Pat Surtain II. They rank first in red zone defence, while Philadelphia are number one in scoring near the end zone, and the Broncos prevailed in that contest.
They executed effective strategies in terms of simulated pressure. They did not always sending extra pass rushers instead they could plug two linebackers in the interior then drop them out and dispatch a slot defender from the outside.
Early on in the campaign, we said during a show that Denver might emerge as the current year's dark horses. They finished last season well then excelled of building upon that.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
Recently acquired TE Evan Engram has excelled significantly while new RB JK Dobbins is a player the team trusts. He's currently 5th in the NFL for rushing yards (over 400) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive that the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUN IT!" at the top of his playcall sheet.
That shows that Denver represent a squad aiming to run first, because you can do a lot based on that approach. It slows opposing rushes while maintains in favourable situations.
This has helped QB Bo Nix, who entered the NFL as a first-round selection in the prior draft, throwing 29 touchdown passes – just behind a star QB in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess powerful arms to pass anywhere, but they don't move in the same way that Nix has. He has exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, and he is highly agile.
His strengths are his mobility, the capacity to throw on the run, and using varied release points to deliver the pass when he rolls outside protection, on rollouts. He can deliver precision throws over the middle and over the corner.
For a young quarterback, aged 25, he's got great composure under pressure and isn't bothered by the blitz. He aims to avoid a sack whenever possible and can pass under pressure. He has sharp intelligence and remains quick to decide.
If you consistently run the ball it eats up the clock and forces the opponent to stay in play extended periods, and if you have a mobile QB the defense must cover the area downfield and horizontally. It can be exhausting.
Nix has pushed back at Payton during games sometimes and it seems Payton likes that attitude, seeing him as such a competitor. In my view it's exciting for the coach to coach a young quarterback that is similar to moldable clay. The coach can really build something up the way he wants to shape him. I believe it's a unique opportunity for the coach.
Payton has won a Super Bowl and has passed a legend in all-time victories (173, tying for 14th). He has witnessed everything. I think the success the Broncos are experiencing offensively is mostly down to his leadership, his play-calling, his game sense – and the pairing with the QB helps shape him what he is.
There's no better a more qualified person guiding you, to assist you through some of the tougher situations and boost self-belief.
I believe in Denver's defence, in Bo Nix's tenacity and composure. But are they strong enough to face an elite team at full strength? Since that wasn't a Super Bowl performance by the Eagles last Sunday.
Right now, I don't think Denver are incredible. They're performing better than most, which is a good place to hold their division. All they need is to continue this trajectory.
They're really good at embracing their strength, which is running the ball, and this is exactly what they must do versus the New York Jets in London. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, essentially.
New York have surrendered 140 rushing yards each contest (among the worst), five rushing touchdowns so far (in the bottom ten), and they're the only team yet to win any game.
Ever since the NFL started recording turnovers decades ago, this team are also the inaugural squad to be without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising when you think that the head coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
Patrick Mahomes says Kansas City have 'already lost too many games' after Monday's defeat to Jacksonville.
Following the upcoming matchup, Denver have a smooth-ish schedule up to their bye (in week 12) - the Giants, the Cowboys, the Texans plus the Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In their division, the Chiefs are 2-3 and the Broncos are tied with the Los Angeles Chargers on 3-2 so they could challenge at leading the division.
This hinges upon which form of the Chiefs they face since Denver {beat|def
