Ways the Broncos and the flexible QB could halt that Chiefs' rule.
Ex Buffalo Bills assistant coach Phoebe Schecter serves as an NFL pundit and represents the UK's flag football team.
- Published
- Half a dozen responses
NFL 2025 season: Week six
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It's week six of the NFL season and following last week's talk regarding the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles as possible championship contenders, they both surrendered their perfect starts.
Striking in those games were the amount of infractions each conceded. Philadelphia did so at crucial times so they essentially beat themselves after leading by two touchdowns going into the fourth period against the Denver Broncos, who play overseas this Sunday.
However it was good to see how Denver's QB Bo Nix was able to have that deficit before direct three scoring drives in three attempts in the fourth quarter, securing the victory 21-17.
Denver have the top defender with cornerback Pat Surtain II. They are number one in goal-line defense, while Philadelphia are number one in red zone offence, yet Denver won that contest.
They executed effective strategies in terms of disguised blitzes. They did not necessarily sending more than four defenders but they could plug two LBs in the interior before drop them out and dispatch a nickel from the outside.
At the start of the season, we said on a program that Denver could be the current year's dark horses. They finished last season strongly and excelled in continuing that momentum.
Could Denver be this year's dark horses?
New TE Evan Engram has stepped up big while new running back JK Dobbins is a guy the team trusts. He's currently fifth in the NFL in ground gains (402) as well as tied for fourth in rushing scores (4).
It's impressive that the coach the Broncos' leader displays "RUSH!" at the top on his call sheet.
This demonstrates how Denver are a squad that wants to prioritize the run, because one can do a lot off the back of that. It slows down the pass rush while keeps you in favourable down and distances.
It's also benefited quarterback the young passer, who entered into the league as the 12th overall draft pick last year, passing for 29 TDs – second only to a star QB in rookie records (31 in 2020).
Other elite QBs possess the arm strength to pass all over, but they lack in the same way that Nix has. He has exceptional arm talent, a unique trait, plus he is highly agile.
His assets are his movement, the capacity to throw while moving, and using varied release points to deliver the pass as he moves outside protection, on rollouts. He can deliver that layered pass over the middle or past defenders.
As a rookie QB, aged 25, he's got great poise in the pocket and isn't bothered by the blitz. He tries to evade being tackled as much as possible and can throw in tight spots. He possesses a high football IQ and is very decisive.
When you consistently run the ball it eats up time and forces 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.
The quarterback has pushed back at Payton during games at times and it seems the coach likes that attitude, seeing him as a fierce rival. I think it's fun for the coach to have a rookie QB who's similar to moldable clay. He can truly build something up the way he wants to build it. I believe it's a special experience for him.
The head coach has won a Super Bowl and now surpassed Bill Parcells in all-time victories (173 - tied 14th overall). He has witnessed everything. In my opinion the achievements the Broncos are having offensively is largely due to his leadership, his schemes, his situational awareness – and the pairing with the QB helps make him what he is.
You wouldn't want a more qualified person in your ear, to help you through some of the tougher situations and boost confidence.
I believe in the Broncos' defense, in the QB's grit and calm. Yet are they strong enough to go against an elite team at full strength? Since that wasn't championship-level play by the Eagles in their last game.
Currently, it's unlikely Denver are incredible. They're working better than most, that's a good place to be in their division. All they need is to continue this trajectory.
They excel at embracing their strength, that is running the ball, and that's exactly what they must do against the New York Jets in London. It will likely be the JK Dobbins show, in essence.
New York have allowed 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 league began tracking turnovers in 1933, this team are also the inaugural squad to go without any turnovers in five outings, which is surprising considering that their new coach was previously a defensive coach at the Detroit Lions.
The Chiefs' QB says Kansas City are off to a poor start after a recent loss to Jacksonville.
After this Sunday's game, Denver have a smooth-ish schedule up to their break (in week twelve) - the Giants, the Cowboys, Houston Texans and Las Vegas Raiders before the Kansas City Chiefs.
In the AFC West, Kansas City are 2-3 and the Broncos are even with the Chargers at 3-2 so they could make a run for the top of the West.
This hinges upon what version Kansas City shows up they meet because the Broncos {beat|def