Broncos vs. Jets: Three must-know storylines for London game on Sunday

London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is set to host its second game in as many weeks as the Denver Broncos and New York Jets square off in Week 6.

Sunday's affair features a peculiar head-coaching matchup between Sean Payton and Aaron Glenn, who were once coach and player, respectively, on the 2008 New Orleans Saints -- a team that defeated the Chargers in the second regular-season game of the NFL's international venture. Seventeen years and 56 regular-season games overseas later, Payton and Glenn face off on opposing sidelines.

Glenn arrives in London still searching for his first win after becoming the first head coach in Jets history to lose his first five games. New York has started 0-5 for the fourth time in franchise history (most recent: 2020). The Jets are the eighth team to enter an international game winless in Week 6 or later, per NFL Research. The previous seven winless teams went 1-6 in the ensuing game. The Jets hold a 2-2 international record entering Sunday, losing their past two in London.

Denver enters its third international game with a 1-1 record, its last appearance a 2022 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Payton, who holds an undefeated international record (2-0, both with the Saints), can win his 174th career game and move into a tie with Mike McCarthy for 13th all time.

Three must-know storylines

1) Broncos riding high into London

Denver is coming off a big win against the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles, handing Philadelphia its first loss of the season after scoring 18 unanswered points in an impressive fourth-quarter comeback that saw a Bo Nix-led offense overcome struggles in the final frame. While there's great opportunity for the offense to carry that momentum into Sunday against a Jets team on the ropes, the Broncos' defense takes center stage in London. Denver's 21.0 sacks on the season lead the NFL entering Week 6 and the pass rush has been able to disrupt opposing quarterbacks without stressing the rest of the unit (14 of 21 sacks have come without blitzing). Nik Bonitto leads the charge with a league-high 7.0 sacks (31 QB pressures), but fellow pass rushers Jonathan Cooper (2.5 sacks; 19 QB pressures) and Zach Allen (1.5 sacks; 15 QB pressures) also require attention. The tremendous QB hunting from Denver is really a continuation from last season as the Broncos' 84.0 sacks since 2024 are 22 more than the next closest team. That strength has supported a top-five defense through five games, ranking second in points allowed per game (16.8), fourth in yards allowed per game (288.6), third on third-down conversion rate (30.3%) and first in red-zone TDs allowed (28.6%). New York's 16 sacks allowed are tied for fourth-worst in the league (second-worst 132 yards lost on sacks) and the Broncos are poised to showcase their strength on the world's stage.

2) Can New York's offense get some help?

The Jets defense has played a major role in its winless start, allowing 31.4 points and 347.4 yards per game while the offense has averaged 22.4 PPG -- the second-most by a winless team through five games in NFL history. Remarkably, Aaron Glenn's unit has yet to force a turnover this season, making it the first team since at least 1950 to start a season 0-5 while having zero takeaways, according to NFL Research. It's soured the positive start from Justin Fields, who is just one of two QBs (Jalen Hurts) in the NFL with a 100-plus passer rating and zero interceptions so far. Fields is 0-26 in his career when his team allows more than 20 points, the worst of any QB since 1970 (minimum 10 starts). Unlike their opponent on Sunday, the Jets have been unable to get after QBs in 2025, generating only three sacks in the last four games. The Jets are capable of controlling the game with a healthy ground attack that ranks third in the NFL with 144.4 rushing yards per game, but the defense is also inclined to reverse that game script out of New York's favor, yielding a 140.4-yard per game average.

3) Surtain looms over healthy Fields-Wilson connection

The Jets' passing offense has been carried by Garrett Wilson, who has generated 33 receptions for 382 yards and four touchdowns -- all team highs and top 10 in NFL. Fields, who owns a 125.3 passer rating this season when targeting Wilson, might have to be careful targeting his No. 1 wideout with Patrick Surtain II draped all over him. According to Next Gen Stats, Wilson has been targeted just seven times in three games against Surtain, who has allowed just three receptions for 34 yards while finding one interception and two pass break-ups in the matchup. Wilson comes into London hot, having scored touchdowns in three straight games, but the reigning Defensive Player of the Year might force Fields to look elsewhere. While tight ends Mason Taylor (20 receptions, 175 yards) and Jeremy Ruckert (eight receptions, 72 yards; TD) have been Fields' more reliable secondary options, the Jets remaining WRs have struggled to produce as Tyler Johnson is the next leading receiver with 63 yards.

Broncos' Week 6 injury report

Jets' Week 6 injury report