Payton’s Return to New Orleans Was a Tough One for Saints Fans
Sean Payton’s return to the Superdome wasn’t an explosive event, but it was a slow, methodical takedown of his former team. The Broncos didn’t deliver a perfect offensive performance, with Bo Nix missing a few key passes and his receivers dropping some as well. However, they managed to keep moving the ball steadily against a struggling Saints defense, relying heavily on the run game. Denver’s defense, even without star cornerback Patrick Surtain II, controlled much of the game. Payton is known for his daring plays, but he also knows how to grind out a win. While Saints fans welcomed him with a mix of cheers and boos, it’s safe to say Payton enjoyed this victory, despite its imperfections. Former Saints kicker Wil Lutz, now with the Broncos, had his own redemption moment, nailing all four field goals. Even ex-Saints Lucas Krull and Kwon Alexander made their marks, with Krull setting a career high in receiving yards and Alexander recovering a key fumble. The Broncos marched into New Orleans and put on a show.
Saints’ Season Is Starting to Slip Away
After a promising start with two wins and a combined 91 points, the Saints have now dropped five straight games, including three at home. They’ve managed only 79 points in those losses. It’s been a rough stretch, including back-to-back home defeats by 20+ points, something that hasn’t happened since 2001, years before Payton took over the team. The Broncos gave the Saints chances, but the injury-ridden Saints couldn’t take advantage. Missing their quarterback, two starting receivers, and two offensive linemen, things got worse when cornerbacks Paulson Adebo and Marshon Lattimore were injured during the game. Saints fans seemed to check out after Drew Brees’ Hall of Fame halftime ceremony, with many leaving early. Whether it was the poor timeout call before halftime or the missed interception by Tyrann Mathieu, fans seemed numb to the pain of seeing their former coach lead the Broncos to victory. At 2-5, with key players out and the bye week still far away, the Saints are in a tough spot.
Broncos Defense Shines
Even though the Saints were dealing with multiple injuries on offense, Denver’s defense came to play on Thursday. Just a few days after struggling against the Chargers, the Broncos tightened up and delivered a solid performance. Without their standout cornerback Patrick Surtain II, they still managed to pressure Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler and limit his opportunities. Cody Barton, emerging as one of Denver’s most reliable defenders, had an outstanding game with a strip-sack, an interception, and a 52-yard return for a touchdown. It was a complete, four-quarter effort, and arguably the Broncos’ best defensive showing of the season.
Rookie Quarterbacks Face Some Growing Pains
The 2024 season has seen some great performances from rookie quarterbacks, but Thursday’s game wasn’t one of those highlights. Bo Nix, drafted 12th overall, outperformed fellow rookie Spencer Rattler, but it wasn’t a flawless showing. Nix struggled at times, missing a few throws and almost giving away an interception before halftime. He did manage to limit mistakes and use his legs effectively, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. Spencer Rattler, in his second start, faced a lot of pressure and couldn’t find his rhythm after an early strip-sack. His shorthanded receiving corps didn’t help, and his two lost fumbles were costly. Jake Haener came in late to replace an injured Rattler and led the Saints to a garbage-time touchdown. It’ll be interesting to see how Dennis Allen handles the QB situation if Derek Carr isn’t back in time for the next game.
Saints Defense Struggling Despite Injuries
Over the last 11 days, the Saints have allowed 110 points and nearly 1,500 yards – a staggering amount, especially with two of those games happening at home. While the run defense wasn’t as bad as it was against the Buccaneers, it still struggled against the Broncos. Missed tackles, poor gap discipline, and lackluster effort were evident again. The secondary took a big hit with the injuries to Paulson Adebo and Marshon Lattimore, which thinned out the depth chart even further. Despite these challenges, the defense’s overall performance was disappointing, especially under Dennis Allen, who is a defensive-minded coach. His lack of aggressiveness and the offense’s struggles contributed to the team’s poor showing. If things don’t improve soon, the Saints defense could finish as one of the lower-ranked units this season.
Stats Insight for Broncos-Saints:
The Broncos defense generated 14 quick pressures (under 2.5 seconds) in their Week 7 win, tying for the most quick pressures by a defense in a game this season. In the first six weeks, Denver led the league with 51 quick pressures.
From the official site NFL Research:
Sean Payton’s win over the Saints puts NFL head coaches at 2-6 when playing their first road games against teams they coached for 10+ seasons, since 2000. Before Thursday, the only other coach to win was Andy Reid in 2013, when the Chiefs beat the Eagles in Philadelphia.