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Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

John Elway Raises Concerns About Broncos’ London Trip

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jake Elman | Last updated Oct 8, 2025 4:42 PM ET

Highlights

Denver Broncos legend John Elway is concerned about the team’s impending trip to London.
The Broncos previously played in London in 2010 and 2022.
Denver can move to 4-2 with a victory over the lowly New York Jets.

Denver Broncos legend John Elway enthusiastically watched his former team pull off what he called a “signature win” when they toppled the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5.

Unfortunately for the Broncos, their most significant Week 6 challenge may not be the winless New York Jets. Sean Payton, Bo Nix, and the 3-2 Broncos are headed to London for the first time since 2022, and Elway doesn’t necessarily sound thrilled.

“That’s a tough situation,” Elway told USA Today this week.

Although Elway praised the Broncos’ decision to travel to London immediately following their victory over the Eagles, he nonetheless expressed concern about the overall process. The NFL opted not to give the Broncos a Week 7 bye, instead giving them an Oct. 19 home game against the New York Giants.

The Broncos have a Week 12 bye, keeping them on the field through their Nov. 16 showdown with the rival Kansas City Chiefs.

“They’ve got a tough two-week stretch here, where they’re going to have to make sure their mindset is totally focused on winning football games,” Elway explained. “Because there’s a lot of different things that — they’re out of their rhythm. You get out of [your] rhythm when you have to go overseas and do those types of things.”

The Denver Broncos last played in London in 2022Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Elway acknowledged that Broncos head coach Sean Payton has at least experienced the overseas trip and process before. Payton’s New Orleans Saints notched victories in London in 2008 and 2017.

Denver previously played in London in 2010 and 2022.

Why Did the NFL Not Give the Broncos a Bye After Their London Game?

Elway’s point about the Broncos not getting a Week 7 bye is not only valid, but it raises serious questions about the NFL’s overall scheduling process. Of the six teams to play in London this season, only three received a bye the following week. The Minnesota Vikings are off this week, while the NFL gave the Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Rams a Week 8 bye.

The NFL has played regular-season games in London since 2007, and we wouldn’t be surprised if the league has data suggesting that a post-London bye isn’t the elixir that fans might think it’d be. However, that doesn’t mean the league should actively avoid helping its teams with, say, a Week 7 bye if they’re spending Week 6 in England.

To their credit, the NFL at least gave the Broncos four home games in five weeks following their return from London. However, the Jets will host Carolina in Week 7, play at Cincinnati in Week 8, and then take Week 9 off. We’re not sure why the NFL wouldn’t opt for consistency here, but when has the NFL ever made sense?

Regardless, FanDuel Sportsbook listed the Broncos as -7 point favorites (-118, meaning that a $100 bet would net a $184.75 payout) as of Wednesday afternoon.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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